CD Projekt Red uses AI to restore Polish Geralt voice after actor's stroke

CD Projekt Red is using artificial intelligence to adjust the voice of Jacek Rozenek, the Polish voice actor for Geralt of Rivia, in the upcoming The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past. Rozenek suffered a stroke in 2019 and lost his speech for months. He recovered enough to record a few lines for the game's next-gen update in 2021, but that brief session left him exhausted.

For the expansion, the studio wanted Rozenek to reprise his role but found his voice had become rougher and lower. The expansion requires many new combat and violent voice lines. CD Projekt Red worked with Ukrainian AI company Respeecher, which previously helped emulate the voice of the late actor Miłogost Reczek for Cyberpunk 2077. In this case, Rozenek will still perform the lines, and Respeecher will tune his voice to sound closer to his original performance.

According to Game File's Stephen Totilo, the difference is significant and the altered voice sounds much closer to the original. CD Projekt Red acknowledges the ethical concerns around AI in voice acting but believes this application is acceptable, especially since the actor gave his blessing.

The article's author notes that Doug Cockle, the English voice of Geralt who also had health issues, recorded new lines for the expansion and his voice sounds naturally rougher and different from 12 years ago.