AI Voice Cloning Sparks Tomb Raider Fan Backlash

French voice actress Françoise Cadol has taken legal action against game developer Aspyr after discovering her iconic Lara Croft voice had been cloned using artificial intelligence without her consent. The controversy erupted when fans immediately recognised the robotic, lifeless quality of the AI-generated voice in the August 2025 update of “Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered.”

Context and Background

Cadol, who voiced the French-language Lara Croft for twelve years from 1996 to 2008, built an intimate connection with fans who served as “guardians” of her work. When Aspyr released the game update on 14th August, her phone erupted with messages from upset fans within minutes of the release.

The AI voice clone was particularly obvious due to a grammatical error that mixed polite and informal French language forms—a mistake no native speaker would make. Gamer Romain Bos posted a YouTube video the same evening, expressing his disgust: “It’s half Françoise Cadol, half AI. It’s horrible! Why have they done that?”

Aspyr, based in Austin, Texas, has since acknowledged incorporating “unauthorised AI generated content” and removed all AI voiceover material from the game, apologising for the inconvenience caused.

Looking Forward

The incident highlights growing concerns about AI’s impact on voice acting careers, with United Voice Artists reporting similar cases worldwide from Brazil to Taiwan. Patrick Kuban, co-president of the international federation, warns that if actors can be replaced by AI, other professions including accountants face similar automation risks.

The case parallels recent Hollywood strikes where video game performers secured an 11-month contract battle for AI guardrails. Cadol’s Paris lawyer Jonathan Elkaim is seeking both an apology and financial redress, potentially setting important precedents for voice actor rights in the AI era.

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