There’s been a great debate in the modding scene as of current concerning the ethical implications of using AI voice acting to help provide voices to mod projects. This is mostly used for new characters to deliver lines however many are also using them to recreate characters from the actual game so that the dialogue from player characters or well known characters and such actually works in the context of the story rather than just being replaced with silent text boxes.
Now in theory this is a fantastic thing as it really opens the door for modders to experiment with their mods and make them that much more immersive and feel a lot more like they are an extension of the base game. However the moral implications come from the fact that not only does this take away work from actual voice actors who could lend their talent to projects like this but in the case of recreating already existing characters you are literally using someone’s already existing talented voice work without their permission. It’s like using an artist’s drawings and recreating new art using their exact same style and technique, while yes it’s authentic it also takes away from the original artist’s work.
It’s a tricky debate and I can see both sides to it. On the one hand this technology is inevitable and as such the usage of it will eventually become commonplace, allowing for much better products, and besides modders generally don’t have the budget to pay for voice actors when they are creating something for free. On the other hand if this continues it will lead to the eventual decline and death of the voice acting industry which is absolutely tragic and should not be supported.
What do you think about all this? Do you think AI Voice Acting is the future or do you think modders should refrain from using it? Be sure to leave your opinions in the comment section below! That’s all for now, and as always. It’s not just a game, It’s a Life.