Aspyr Media has released a hotfix for Tomb Raider Remastered that removes all AI-generated voice content, following backlash and ongoing legal challenges regarding the use of unauthorized audio. The studio issued an apology alongside the update, clarifying that while the AI voiceovers have been taken out, other improvements from the prior patch remain intact.
In a short statement accompanying the hotfix, the developer wrote, “We’ve addressed this issue by removing all AI voiceover content, while retaining the improvements made in the previous update. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please reach out to our customer support site with any issues.”
The controversy began earlier this month after French actress Françoise Cadol, who has voiced Lara Croft since 1996, revealed she is pursuing legal action against Aspyr Media. According to her interview with French outlet Le Parisien, Cadol was shocked to discover that the remastered compilation of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider Chronicles, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness featured an AI-generated voice closely modeled on her performance.
“This vaguely resembles mine, but it is not me,” Cadol stated, calling the practice “pure theft” done for “clear and deliberate commercial purposes.” The lawsuit claims that Aspyr used AI to replicate her voice without consent, removing her original recordings in the process.
Cadol’s connection to Lara Croft stretches back nearly three decades, and her interpretation of the character made a strong cultural impact in France. Beyond the games, she became the official French voice of Angelina Jolie during the actress’s portrayal of Croft in the early 2000s film adaptations. Over the years, she has also provided dubbing work for Hollywood stars including Sandra Bullock, Tilda Swinton, and Patricia Arquette, securing her reputation as one of France’s leading voice performers.
Aspyr’s decision to retract the AI content suggests an effort to mitigate the backlash, though the legal proceedings remain ongoing. The hotfix marks a rare instance where a major publisher has been forced to address public concern over artificial intelligence and intellectual property in game development.
