AI Revitalizes Geralt's Voice for The Witcher 3 Expansion

Reclaiming the Iconic Voice: A Technological Triumph in Gaming

Restoring a Legendary Voice Actor's Performance

Reports from Game File reveal that CD Projekt, in collaboration with AI firm Respeecher, has employed artificial intelligence to refine the vocal performance of Jacek Rozenek, the Polish voice actor for Geralt in 'The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt' expansion, 'Songs of the Past'. Rozenek, who has lent his voice to Geralt across all Polish versions of The Witcher games, faced a life-altering stroke in 2019, which temporarily impaired his speech. Although he made a significant recovery by 2021, enabling him to contribute to the next-gen update of 'The Witcher 3', the process was described as arduous.

The Challenge of Vocal Continuity in "Songs of the Past"

Despite his rehabilitation, Rozenek's voice had naturally undergone changes due to the stroke and the passage of time. As 'Songs of the Past' is set within the existing timeline of 'The Witcher 3', maintaining vocal consistency for Geralt was crucial. Game File's Stephen Totilo noted that Rozenek's current voice was "lower and gruffer," presenting a distinct contrast to his earlier recordings. This vocal shift posed a problem for the developers aiming to preserve the character's established sound.

AI's Role in Recreating the Past

With the actor's consent, CD Projekt partnered with Respeecher. Rozenek continued to perform his lines for Geralt in the Polish version of the expansion, while Respeecher's AI technology adjusted his delivery to replicate his voice from a decade prior. Dmytro Vasylets, a synthetic speech artist, explained the objective: to make Jacek's voice sound as vibrant, rich, and youthful as it was in the original game. He highlighted the extensive effort involved in training AI models and meticulously handling the subtleties of emotional range, including shouts, groans, anger, and laughter, to ensure the highest audio quality.

Actor's Endorsement and Industry Implications

Rozenek expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing his trust in the game's creators and the necessity of making his voice resemble its former self from 12 years ago. This isn't CD Projekt's first foray into AI voice modification; they previously used Respeecher to honor the late Miłogost Reczek, who voiced Viktor Vektor and Vesemir, with his family's blessing. The use of generative AI in voice acting is a complex and frequently debated topic within the industry, with voice actors actively seeking control over such applications. CD Projekt has acknowledged these concerns, stating that Rozenek's situation was a "special case" driven by his health. They confirmed that similar AI alterations are not planned for Doug Cockle, the English voice actor for Geralt, nor for future Witcher games where a natural vocal change could be contextually explained.