A major controversy has erupted in the gaming industry as Apex Legends voice actors take a stand against the increasing use of AI-generated content in video games. In a bold move, the entire cast of French voice actors for the game has refused to continue working after receiving a new contract clause that requires them to sign over all rights to their voices.
This comes amid a growing debate over the role of AI in gaming, with recent industry-wide moves to enforce transparency. Steam, for instance, recently introduced a new policy requiring developers to disclose AI usage in their games – a decision that has already affected franchises like Call of Duty, which was forced to admit it had used AI-generated assets.
The Fight Against AI in Gaming
The use of AI in video games has been a growing concern among developers, artists, and voice actors alike. Many fear that AI-generated content will replace human talent, taking away jobs and lowering the overall quality of gaming experiences. This concern became a reality when Activision, the company behind Call of Duty, was caught using AI-generated artwork. More recently, EA – the publisher of Apex Legends – issued a patent for an AI voice system, potentially signaling an effort to reduce reliance on professional voice actors.
Now, the battle has reached a boiling point. The French voice cast of Apex Legends has taken a strong stance against AI-generated voices, refusing to comply with the new contractual demands.
Forced to “Give Up” the Role
The controversy was brought to light when Pascale Chemin, the French voice of Wraith, posted a statement on Instagram revealing that actors had been given an email outlining the new contract terms. She described the agreement as "unacceptable", a sentiment echoed by her audiovisual lawyer. The contract reportedly demanded that actors surrender all rights to their voices, with no restrictions on how they would be used in the future.
Chemin, who has voiced Wraith for six years, expressed deep frustration over the situation. She admitted that while she felt forced to step away from the role, she had not expected her fellow actors to do the same.
In a tweet, she said (translated):
It's here, it's now. Video game publishers want to force their way through. But to accept would be to give up, in the short term, our profession, it would be to accept being replaced by a machine that will never be an interpreter
However, in an unprecedented act of solidarity, the rest of the French voice cast quickly followed suit. They released a statement explaining their refusal, emphasizing that they were being asked to “endorse AI” without any guarantees on the limitations of its use.
Damn, all the French voice actors for Apex really quit when EA tried to force them to sign away their voices for AI work. "Accept this without question" pic.twitter.com/mTjmJplIT9
— Kevtheking99-YT (@kevtheking99) February 26, 2025
A Wider Industry Problem
The voice actors also pointed out that similar clauses are appearing in contracts across Europe, citing a new law on intellectual property as the supposed justification for these AI-friendly agreements.
This fight is not just about Apex Legends – it represents a larger battle over the future of voice acting in gaming. If publishers can legally claim full control over an actor’s voice, they could use AI to generate new lines indefinitely, without paying the original performers.
The pushback against AI is growing across the industry. Steam’s new policy, which forces developers to clearly disclose AI usage in their games, is an important step toward transparency. Call of Duty was one of the first high-profile games affected by this policy, after Activision admitted to using AI-generated assets. While this policy does not outright ban AI, it does ensure that consumers are aware of when AI is being used in game development.
Silence from EA and Respawn
As of now, Respawn Entertainment, the developers of Apex Legends, and EA, the game's publisher, have not commented on the situation. However, given the strong backlash from the French voice actors, the issue is unlikely to go unnoticed for long.
With Steam tightening regulations and voice actors across the industry pushing back against AI, the debate over AI’s role in video game development is far from over. Will Apex Legends be forced to find a new cast, or will EA and Respawn reconsider their approach? For now, one thing is clear – the fight against AI replacing human talent is only just beginning.