All of Apex Legends’ French Voice Actors Have Quit

The entire French voice cast of Apex Legends has quit, citing a disagreement with a new addendum that could leave the door open for AI use in the future. Many have begun to voice their support for the Apex Legends cast, sharing the sentiment that they don’t want to see these technologies taking opportunities from deserving humans who can offer unique qualities to their work.

The entertainment space has seen the push of various forms of AI, but actors and writers are among many who have consistently pushed back against the use of these new tools in their work. Occasionally, some developers will decide to use AI in their process, often with the stated purpose of streamlining their workflow. In 2023, Embark Studio responded to a controversy over its AI voice line usage in The Finals, and Apex Legends fans may call upon Respawn Entertainment for answers about whether the development team is considering using AI.

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A new social media post authored by Pascale Chemin, the French voice actor for Wraith in Apex Legends, announced that the game’s entire French voice cast of 31 actors has quit. Translations for the post articulate that an addendum was made to the cast’s contract, asking them to give up all rights to their voices, “with no guarantee of limited use.” This section of the contract suggests the possibility of the Apex Legends team using the cast’s voices for AI.

Apex Legends’ French Voice Cast Quits

After discussing the contract they were given with some of their lawyers, the French Apex Legends cast stated in more certain terms that signing would feel like an implicit endorsement of AI, which many game devs have rallied against. For some, this is an issue of compensation, as recording voice data under a contract with loose rules surrounding AI could leave freedom for studios to train models on that data, allowing them to replicate an actor’s voice for new lines without having to pay them for any more sessions.

Alternatively, some simply believe that AI is an unnecessary element in the creative process and that it limits the window of opportunity for a human touch. Harrison Ford recently praised Troy Baker‘s performance in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, stating that teams “don’t need AI to steal [his] soul,” implying that he would prefer to be imitated by a skilled performer who can attribute many nuances to the role, compared to a machine that doesn’t feel any particular way about the character of Indiana Jones or their legacy. For the French Apex Legends team, this situation appears to be a mix of these attitudes, with voice actors feeling that they deserve clearer compensation structures, and refusing to back a product they don’t believe in.

Game

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Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play* Hero shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier.

Master an ever-growing roster of diverse legends, deep tactical squad play, and bold new innovations that go beyond the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Hero Shooter.

This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items.

Battle Royale

First-Person Shooter

Released

February 4, 2019

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Violence

Publisher(s)

Electronic Arts