Hello everyone,
As you may know, Microsoft intends to introduce a clause related to AI usage into the contracts of voice actors working on their games, allowing AI to reuse their recorded voices.
Some voice acting communities in various countries have accepted this clause after renegotiation. However, this is not the case for the French voice acting community, which has refused and even launched a protest movement under the hashtag #TouchePasMaVF.
Since then, French dubbing in Microsoft games appears to be significantly affected.
Some titles no longer offer French audio at all (Forza Horizon 6, Oblivion Remastered, etc.).
Others have been relocated to Quebec. This is notably the case for the game that concerns us here: Overwatch (as well as World of Warcraft).
Regarding the French version of Overwatch, the five new heroes (and future ones) are now dubbed in Quebec, in what could be described as a form of “international French,” where actors perform without a distinct Quebec accent or regional expressions. However, for some older heroes, certain voice lines remain in English or are missing entirely.
As for cinematics, the latest one, Reign of Talon, did not receive a French dub — a first in ten years.
Could Blizzard please provide clarification regarding the current status of the French version of Overwatch?
Have negotiations with French voice actors definitively ended?
Is Overwatch going to become a “Franglais” experience, with part of the voice-over in French and part in English?
Will the entire French cast eventually be replaced by Quebec actors — or by AI?
I would like to thank Blizzard in advance for addressing this matter, as the situation is concerning not only for French voice actors, but also for the entire French-speaking community.
I understand that many players use English or other languages, but this is a broader issue that could ultimately affect all localized versions. Tomorrow, any language could potentially be replaced by AI.
Blizzard–Microsoft has always emphasized accessibility for all players. French dubbing is part of that accessibility. Many players do not speak other languages or do not wish to rely on subtitles during combat.
Thank you for your attention, and I hope a solution can be found that is fair and beneficial for everyone involved.
