The video game industry once again finds itself at the center of a heated debate over artificial intelligence. Thirty-two French voice actors, who had worked on the dubbing of the popular shooter Apex Legends, have refused to accept the new contractual terms proposed by Electronic Arts (EA) and have announced their departure from the project.
The dispute arose after the actors were presented with a document requiring them to cede rights to their voices for AI training. Essentially, this clause meant that EA could create digital replicas of their voices, allowing the company to use them indefinitely without the actors’ direct involvement.
Pascale Chemin, a veteran voice actress who had brought characters to life in the game for over six years, was the first to speak out on social media. After consulting with an entertainment industry lawyer, she concluded that such terms were unacceptable.
She was soon joined by 31 other voice actors, who collectively refused to sign the agreement. Now, they await a response from Electronic Arts, but as of yet, the company has remained silent. In the meantime, all of them have suspended their work on the game.
The controversy has ignited widespread discussion online, with many gamers rallying behind the actors. Critics argue that AI-generated voices would strip the game of its emotional depth and expressiveness. The sentiment is echoed in countless comments, including:
- “Replace voice actors and artists with AI, but still hike prices on in-game events? Perfect balance!”
- “This is literally something a supervillain would do.”
- “It’s EA. No surprises here.”
Some have questioned whether English-speaking voice actors would face a similar fate. In response, others pointed out that the SAG-AFTRA union has been actively fighting against such practices for months.
The outrage has culminated in a petition opposing the replacement of voice actors with AI, which has already garnered nearly 165,000 signatures.
