The Voice Actors' Strike Bares Its Teeth

The ongoing strike by video game voice actors, which began in late July, has now started to have a noticeable impact on the industry. A recent picket at Electronic Arts' Los Angeles studio and the launch of Genshin Impact's latest update, which lacks English voice acting for two central characters, have brought attention to the strike. As a live-service game with a massive amount of story content, Genshin Impact is particularly affected by the strike, which has left developer Hoyoverse with limited options. The situation demonstrates the strike's influence and the value of good voice acting in games, which is not up for debate. The transition from text-based dialogue to fully voiced games was a significant milestone, and players deeply associate voice actors with characters. Poor or inconsistent voice acting is often criticized, and the current dispute over AI-generated voice acting has significant implications for the industry. While AI can mimic an actor's voice, it cannot replicate the nuances and creative choices that a human actor brings to a performance. The use of AI-generated voice acting could damage the voice acting profession and have far-reaching consequences for the gaming industry, including the loss of jobs, creativity, and originality. It is essential to recognize the importance of human voice actors and the need to protect their rights and interests in the face of emerging technologies.