Summary
- The mocap director for Resident Evil Village and The Witcher 3’s DLC stated that, with layoffs and budget cuts, nothing is guaranteed.
- However, the director also believes AI won’t replace actors anytime soon.
The performance capture director responsible for games like Resident Evil Village and The Witcher 3’s DLC packs has recently stated that, given the current uncertainty in the gaming industry, nothing is guaranteed—though he believes AI won’t replace actors “anytime soon.” Motion capture makes games like Resident Evil Village and The Witcher 3 possible, and now actors are struggling to reach an agreement with producers to protect their roles in the industry.
The video game industry is going through a particularly challenging time. While layoffs are nothing new—major companies like Blizzard have conducted massive cuts over the years—workers now face new threats posed by artificial intelligence. One major concern is how AI could take over voice actors' jobs, as the technology is capable of replicating the voices of famous artists or even creating entirely new ones. These concerns have led actors to strike, demanding protections against technologies that could use their likeness and voices in ways they consider unfair. Now, an important figure in the gaming industry has spoken up about the controversy.
Sony's Visual Arts Studio Suffers Layoffs
Many developers from two PlayStation support studios report that they've been impacted in a recent wave of "widespread" layoffs.
The performance capture director behind The Witcher 3's DLC packs and Resident Evil Village, Steve Kniebihly, reflected on the industry's current state in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He noted that the uncertainty in the industry has made things difficult even for major companies. “Layoffs, budget cuts, and uncertainty have made it clear that nothing is guaranteed—even for successful studios,” he said. With only three months into 2025, numerous studios have already announced layoffs, continuing a trend that has persisted for years.
Resident Evil Village Mocap Director Believes AI Won't Replace Voice Actors Anytime Soon
With the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike still unresolved, Kniebihly shared his perspective, stating that he doesn’t believe AI will replace voice actors anytime soon. The mocap director argues that AI cannot replicate the “intangible chemistry” between directors and actors. He firmly believes that this exchange of trust is the key element that drives both parties to bring out the best in each other—something he doesn’t see AI being capable of providing.
AI is rapidly making its way into the gaming industry and, while Kniebihly’s stance seems reasonable, actors continue to struggle to reach an agreement. Chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland recently revealed that video game producers want actors to agree to allow their past voice performances to be used in AI training, including performances outside their contracts, while others seek to replicate the voices of striking actors. These proposals have been rejected, and the SAG-AFTRA strike continues. It remains unclear how long the strike will last, but for now, a resolution doesn’t seem to be in sight.
Resident Evil Village
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OpenCritic Reviews
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