Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Pink has confirmed it used AI voice cloning software program to reconstruct the voice of a deceased actor for its Phantom Liberty DLC. Actor Miłogost Reczek voiced the character Viktor Vektor within the Polish model of the sport and would have been tapped to reprise the position for the DLC, which got here out final month, however he died in 2021 earlier than its manufacturing. The developer informed Bloomberg it determined to go this route as a strategy to “pay tribute to his great efficiency,” and was given permission to take action by his household.
As an alternative of changing Reczek outright, CD Projekt Pink labored with Respeecher, the Ukraine-based voice tech firm recognized for deaging Mark Hamill’s voice in The Mandalorian and The Ebook of Boba Fett to create a younger Luke Skywalker. One other actor was employed to talk the brand new strains, and Respeecher’s software program reworked them into Reczek’s voice, CD Projekt localization director Mikołaj Szwed informed Bloomberg. Reczek, who Szwed described as “among the best Polish voice skills,” had additionally voiced main roles in The Witcher sequence.
AI has change into a contentious subject within the leisure trade, and placing Hollywood actors are presently combating for extra protections round using their likenesses, amongst different issues. In September, SAG-AFTRA voted in favor of a strike authorization for online game actors, too, whose jobs might be threatened by studios’ growing reliance on AI. Zelda Williams — Robin Williams’ daughter — lately slammed the follow of emulating deceased actors utilizing AI, saying that they can not consent. On this case, CD Projekt Pink says Reczek’s household was “very supportive.”
