Neil Newbon, the celebrated actor behind Astarion in “Baldur’s Gate 3”, holds a firm and vocal stance against artificial intelligence in performance. During the recent SAG-AFTRA strike to advocate for human artistry, Newbon helped form the Pixel Pack, a coalition of top gaming voice actors. The actor argues passionately that creative jobs are threatened and deliver subpar performances due to generative AI. Still, Major studios have continued to use this technology anyway despite backlash, but why?
Award Wins Fuel AI Debate in Gaming
Generative AI adoption had a dramatic surge within the industry in 2025, prompting significant controversy. For instance, high-profile releases like “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7” faced criticism for their implementation. Meanwhile, Embark Studios’ “Arc Raiders,” which uses AI text-to-speech, won a major award. Altogether, these successes highlight the industry’s conflicted direction.
Newbon doesn’t believe that the financial arguments some developers make in favor of AI tools are lacking. He points out that a tiny fraction of a game’s total budget, especially for a successful title, is for voice acting costs. Moreover, he questions why a profitable studio won’t go back and hire real actors for a superior product, finding their decisions nonsensical.
The High Cost of Cutting Vocal Corners
Indeed, performers are ultimately robbed of vital income and career opportunities, as companies seek shortcuts with AI tools. Given that most actors aren’t wealthy, many actors depend on these roles to thrive. Beyond economics, Newbon simply thinks AI voices sound boring and emotionally hollow, ruining the fun of gaming. The technology ultimately pulls players out of the experience by falling into an uncanny valley.
To address this problem, successful developers who use AI tools must reconsider and reinvest in human talent. Furthermore, this move would help generate immense goodwill among creators and players alike. Honestly, a machine may have its benefits, but relying on it to replicate the raw humanity of a breakthrough performance, like Astarion’s pivotal emotional moments, doesn’t seem possible.
These Bots Need to Find Their Own Voice
To Newbon, no algorithm can capture the human soul that has made iconic games truly iconic. While the AI specter looms, human performers will likely remain irreplaceable. To create memorable and impactful games in the future, studios must choose authenticity over automation for a lasting legacy and player connection.
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