Key Takeaways
1. Françoise Cadol believes her voice for Lara Croft in Tomb Raider IV–VI has been replaced by an AI generator in the remastered versions.
2. A patch for the remaster introduced new lines that distorted Cadol’s original performance, raising concerns about the use of generative AI.
3. Fans are disappointed with Aspyr Media’s decision to implement AI voice acting, following previous controversies over AI use in other localizations.
4. The trend of using AI voice generators in gaming is growing, often as a cost-saving measure when original voice actors are unavailable.
5. The broader gaming industry is increasingly integrating AI for voice acting, leading to disputes and concerns among voice talents about its implications.
Françoise Cadol thinks that an AI voice generator has taken over her lines in the remastered versions of Tomb Raider IV–VI. She is the one who has provided the French dubbing for the character Lara Croft in various Tomb Raider games and films. After an update on August 14th, players noticed that the new voice-overs sounded quite odd. According to Le Parisien, Cadol’s lawyer is requesting that the publisher Aspyr Media halt sales of the latest remastered edition.
Changes in Dialogue for the Remaster
The patch for Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered included new lines that were not present in earlier game versions. However, Cadol is concerned that Aspyr Media has used generative AI to replace her original voice for Lara Croft. The updated French dialogue does share some similarities with Cadol’s voice, but the audio quality shows signs of distortion as well.
Fans Express Disappointment
The fans of the beloved franchise are frustrated that Aspyr would choose to implement an AI version of Lara Croft in any capacity. As reported by TheGamer, the company has already been in hot water for admitting to using an AI voice generator for the Brazilian dub of Tomb Raider. They apologized to Lene Bastos, another actress who voices Croft, blaming “external development partners” for the decision. It seems likely that the removal of AI voice acting will be the outcome in Cadol’s situation.
Cadol is not alone; many voice talents are noticing a worrying trend in the gaming industry. With the rise in popularity of remakes and remasters, publishers are choosing various strategies for recreating dialogue. Sometimes, the original voice actors may have passed away or are otherwise unavailable. Yet, to save on expenses, it is tempting to train an AI voice generator using past recordings to create new lines.
Broader Use of AI in Gaming
Gaming companies are applying artificial intelligence for more than just remastered titles. During Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship, videos showcased AI-generated voice-overs that sounded like Hibiku Yamamura’s work. The Japanese star objected, and soon after, the company removed the content. Konami clarified that the software used for their AI live commentary project unintentionally borrowed from earlier recordings of Yamamura.
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