Geralt of Rivia’s original Polish voice actor is returning to the beloved RPG using AI technology, in a move that highlights how artificial intelligence can be used ethically and compassionately.
Jacek Rozenek, who voices Geralt in CD Projekt Red’s acclaimed fantasy series, suffered a life-changing stroke in 2019 that significantly affected his speech. Despite extensive rehabilitation and eventually regaining his voice, the actor never quite sounded the same.
Now, as reported by PC Gamer, Rozenek has been able to reprise his iconic role for The Witcher 3‘s upcoming expansion, Songs of the Past, using AI to recreate his original voice.
A Challenging Recovery
Rozenek’s stroke not only changed his voice but also presented significant challenges during his recovery. Determined to regain his speech, the actor reportedly underwent intensive rehabilitation, spending six to seven hours a day working on his voice.
When Rozenek was brought back to voice Geralt for the upcoming The Witcher 3 expansion, recreating the character’s iconic gruff tone was understandably a challenge. However, with the actor’s consent, Respeecher’s AI technology was used to help restore the familiar voice fans have come to know and love.
Rather than having AI generate his dialogue entirely, Rozenek recorded the lines himself, with the technology helping recreate the sound of his original performance. This approach ensured that the performance remained authentically his, while the AI filled in the gaps caused by his stroke.
“I was so exhausted after this recording. The point is that this voice should be as close as possible to my voice from 12 years ago. I have great trust in the creators of this game.” — Jacek Rozenek
CD Projekt Red localisation producer Mikołaj Szwed added: “I do think this is one of those ways where you can use AI ethically, with consent and also to do something good.”
A Somber Parallel
Unfortunately, Rozenek isn’t the only actor behind Geralt to have faced serious health issues. Doug Cockle, who voices the character in English, revealed in June 2023 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thankfully, Cockle later shared a positive update following surgery, although he was still undergoing treatment at the time.
What Is Songs of the Past?
Songs of the Past is the third major expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, arriving more than a decade after its two previous expansions, Hearts of Stone (2015) and Blood and Wine (2016). In our hands-off preview earlier this year, we wrote: “With Songs of the Past, it looks like this’ll be the final hurrah for Geralt as he has one last adventure, before Ciri takes over as the protagonist for The Witcher 4 and its proposed sequels.”
Also, Read
- The Witcher Remake Paused by CD Projekt Red After 4 Years of Development
- The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past Could Be the Perfect Send-Off for Geralt
- The Witcher 4 Confirmed for Physical Release — But There May Not Be a Disc Inside
While an exact release date for Songs of the Past has yet to be announced, hopefully, CD Projekt Red will reveal more details in the coming months. As always, we’ll keep you updated when we hear more.