Controversy Brews Over Alleged AI Tampering in Naruto's Latest Game Voiceovers

The most recent installment of the Naruto fighting game series, "Naruto X Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections," has come under scrutiny for what some players perceive as oddities in the voice acting. This new title, which spans a vast portion of the anime's storyline, reusing elements from previous games, has raised eyebrows due to noticeable discrepancies in voiceover quality compared to past versions.

ShonenGameZ, a Twitter user, highlighted a particular cutscene from the game that featured an unusual vocal tone and odd pitch shifts, sparking debate among fans. The attention then turned to comparisons between this latest dub and those from earlier Ninja Storm games. Storm_Master, another Twitter user, presented a side-by-side comparison of the same scene from an older game, pointing out that such voiceover quirks were absent in the previous edition.

Maile Flanagan, known for giving voice to Naruto in English, expressed her own bafflement when she encountered the viral snippet, insisting that she hadn't delivered the line in such a peculiar manner and that no director from the series would have requested such an unusual take.

It wasn't just the "wake you up" line from Naruto that drew criticism; other characters like Kawaki, Kakashi, and Konan had special move voiceovers that fans found lacking when juxtaposed with previous games. The voiceover for Konan was especially criticized for its robotic delivery when compared to the expressive performance in "Ninja Storm 4."

Adding to the controversy, Micheal Schwalbe, the English voice actor for Kawaki, responded to the curious voiceover in disbelief, lamenting the use of what he felt was a subpar take despite his extensive efforts during recording sessions.

Schwalbe went on to share suspicions on social media about potential AI voice manipulation. After consulting with a tech-savvy acquaintance and using AI detection software, he arrived at the troubling conclusion that both authentic voice acting and synthesized content might have been blended together in the game. He pointed out that such use of AI would be a breach of standards, especially considering that the game was produced under union regulations, which typically prohibit undisclosed AI usage.

The controversy surrounding AI in voice work isn't new to the gaming industry. Earlier, AI alterations in voiceovers sparked debates in modifications for "Skyrim" and "Persona 5," where concerns about the ethical use of AI and the necessity for consent from original voice actors were central to the discourse. This incident with the Naruto game adds fuel to the ongoing conversation about AI's place in creative industries and the importance of transparency in its application.