Battlefield Developers' Multiplayer Game, The Finals, Utilizes AI-Generated Voices Sparking Concerns Among Voice Actors

Voice actors dispute claims by developers that AI-generated voices are easier and quicker to generate, arguing professional actors can deliver high-quality performances in a short timeframe.

Embark Studios, developers of the multiplayer game 'The Finals', have utilized AI-generated voices for the game's announcers, contestant voices, and commentators. This decision was due to the technology’s ability to generate voices that sound human in a short timeframe compared to getting human voice actors.
The voice for 'The Finals' characters when running, vaulting, and jumping are created by Embark's developers as current AI technology struggles to accurately portray these sounds.
Gianni Matragrano, a voice actor for video games, has rebutted Embark Studios' claim that with AI voiceover for a new game mode can be recorded in hours versus months for humans. Matragrano argues professional actors are accustomed to recording quality sessions within a day or two.
Alongside concerns about audio quality, there has been criticism of the companies use of AI due to ethical considerations surrounding the replacement of paid voice actors with AI. This echoes recent strikes by the SAG-AFTRA union concerned about digital actors being used without proper informed consent or suitable pay.
The use of AI in voiceover generation for video games is becoming more common, with companies like CD Projekt Red using AI to recreate the voice of a deceased actor for Cyberpunk 2077's expansion, Phantom Liberty. However, its use as a complete replacement for human performers in a game like 'The Finals' is still being hotly debated.