Voice Actors Cry Foul Over AI-Generated Lines in Tomb Raider Remasters

Preserving Authenticity: A Battle Against AI in Classic Game Remasters

The Allegations: Imitation and Unauthorized Use of Voice

Reports from sources like TheGamer and Le Parisien indicate that Françoise Cadol, the former French voice artist for Lara Croft, has reportedly sent a cease and desist letter to Aspyr. This action stems from the perceived use of AI-generated audio that allegedly mimics her voice in the remasters of Tomb Raider 4, 5, and 6.

Wider Discontent: Global Reactions to AI Alterations

Lene Bastos, who provided the Brazilian Portuguese voice for Lara Croft in the same game series, has also voiced her strong disapproval regarding the modification of her recorded lines. According to TheGamer and the French fan community account, Tomb Raider Files, other regional localizations may also have been similarly impacted by these unexpected changes.

Developer's Response and Ongoing Rectification Efforts

Aspyr appears to be actively working on a resolution for this matter, though no official statement has been released by the studio. Inquiries for further clarification have been made, and updates will follow once more information becomes available from Aspyr.

Technical Integration and Unintended Consequences of Updates

It appears that these alterations were introduced as part of an August 18 update for Aspyr's remasters of The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and Angel of Darkness. This update follows their successful 2024 remaster of the initial three Tomb Raider titles. Tomb Raider Files provides a direct comparison demonstrating the differences between the original French voice lines and their AI-generated replacements, which were uploaded shortly after the patch's release.

Voice Actors' Unawareness and Aspyr's Explanation

In an interview with Le Parisien, Cadol stated that she was not contacted by Aspyr regarding any modifications to the audio recordings and did not re-record any lines for the game. French Tomb Raider enthusiasts brought these changes to her attention. Bastos first addressed this issue in an Instagram video posted on August 21.

A Call for Regulation: The Impact of AI on Creative Professions

Bastos expressed her dismay over the use of AI to re-create some of her lines in the game. While not inherently against AI, she stressed the urgent need for regulations to prevent such tools from negatively affecting and harming various professions and creative works. In a subsequent video on September 4, Bastos revealed that she received an apology from Aspyr, stating that an "external development partner" was responsible for the adjustments, and the problematic lines would be removed in the coming weeks.

Confirmed AI Use and Design Decisions Behind Implementations

Tomb Raider de A a Z, a Brazilian fan account, shared a screenshot of the message Bastos received from Aspyr, explicitly confirming that the voice lines were indeed AI-generated by an external partner. The rationale behind introducing these AI-generated, often low-quality and robotic-sounding lines remains puzzling. Some of the controversial lines, as highlighted by Tomb Raider Files, are from the games' tutorial sections and feature different wording compared to the originals. This suggests that the AI might have been a hasty solution to adapt tutorial messages for revised control schemes.

Lessons from Industry Peers: Prioritizing Authenticity

A more appropriate approach to this issue is exemplified by Nightdive Studios. When remastering System Shock 2, they enlisted actors to record new voice lines for the tutorial and prologue sections to accommodate the game's newly implemented controller support, ensuring authenticity and quality.