CD Projekt Red used AI to alter the voice of Geralt's original Polish actor in Witcher 3: Songs of the Past

CD Projekt Red has used AI voice technology to modify the voice of Geralt’s original Polish actor, Jacek Rozenek, for *The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past* expansion. The localisation producer described the approach as a "special case" due to Rozenek’s post-stroke voice changes. Rozenek, who suffered a stroke in 2019, required extensive voice training to regain his ability to speak, which proved physically taxing during recording sessions.

Rozenek briefly returned to voice Geralt in the 2022 next-gen update but found the process exhausting. CD Projekt Red sought his involvement for the new expansion but noted his voice had deepened significantly since 2014. Localisation director Mikołaj Szwed explained that the AI adjustment was necessary to maintain consistency with Geralt’s original voice, avoiding a jarring contrast for players.

The studio collaborated with Ukrainian AI company Respeecher, which trained its technology on Rozenek’s 2014 recordings to recreate his younger voice. Szwed confirmed that all lines recorded for *The Witcher 3* were provided to Respeecher to develop an algorithm matching Rozenek’s earlier vocal style. The process involved extensive model training and refinement to address AI artefacts while preserving emotional nuances.

Respeecher’s synthetic speech artist Dmytro Vasylets highlighted the technical challenges, particularly capturing Rozenek’s emotional range, including shouts, groans, and laughter. Szwed emphasised that CD Projekt Red’s contracts ensure AI use requires explicit actor consent, framing this as an ethical application of the technology. The case underscores ongoing industry debates about generative AI in voice acting and compensation standards.