Vaspaan Dastoor is an Editor for TheGamer. Previously worked at IGN India and constantly tries to get people to make time for an LOTR marathon. He can be found giving hot takes for cold responses at @DastoorVaspaan
James Earl Jones’ portrayal of Darth Vader is probably the most iconic voice acting role of all time. The diction and dread that Jones’ Vader delivered has enthralled fans for decades. So, it’s no wonder that most of us couldn’t help but cringe when Fortnite’s AI-voiced version of Vader kept saying “hawk tuah” and dropped F-bombs.
Another iconic voice actor wants to make sure that his voice doesn’t suffer the same fate as Jones’. Steve Downes, the voice behind Halo’s Master Chief, has firmly stated that he is against the idea of his voice being replicated by AI. He spoke up in a recent AMA, saying that while AI has its benefits, this is not something he stands for.
Master Chief Actor Doesn’t Want AI To Use His Voice
In a recently uploaded AMA video (thanks, GamesRadar), Downes answered a question about AI-voice acting and the ethics of it. “Deceiving somebody into thinking, in my case, that these are lines that I actually spoke, when they’re not. That’s where we cross a line that gets into an area that I am uncomfortable with,” he said. “I’m not a proponent. I don’t like it, and I would prefer that it not be done.”
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He did admit that the use of AI in development is inevitable and on the one hand has “many, many positive effects on not only showbusiness but humanity in general, but it can also be a detriment, can also be something that deprives the actor of his work.” He said that he has heard some AI recreations of his voice online. While he admitted that most of them are harmless, it can easily go the other way. “I’ll go on the record with that,” Downes concluded.
Downes is hardly the first voice actor to speak out against AI-generated voices. Baldur’s Gate 3’s Neil Newbon has on multiple occasions said he hates the idea. Troy Baker claimed that people will eventually get sick of it and seek out more authentic experiences.
- Released
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2026
- Developer(s)
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Halo Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Microsoft Studios
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
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Yes – all platforms
