Summary
The companies behind the newNarutofighting game,Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections, are being accused of using generative AI tools to manufacture voice lines in the game’s English dub. These are serious allegations that have not been proven at the time of this writing, but publisher Bandai Namco and developer CyberConnect2 have yet to comment on this majorUltimate Ninja Storm Connectionscontroversy.
Within days of its November 17 release, players of the newestNarutogame started taking to social media to highlight some bizarre, unnatural, and distractingly bad voiceover lines in the English dub. Some demanded answers from the voice actors behind the characters delivering these jarring lines, while others immediately began speculating that AI tools were involved in some way. Controversy around AI has been widespread in recent months, with multiplayer shooterThe Finalsfacing heavy criticism for its use of AI voicesin late October.
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The AI accusations surroundingUltimate Ninja Storm Connectionshave recently intensified, coming from voice actors involved with the project as well as members of the public. When a fan on Twitter asked Maile Flanagan, the English voice actor for the character Naruto, why she delivered a particular line in a bizarre and off-putting way, Flanagan responded that “I can GUARANTEE I did not say that line that way.” Many users replied to Flanagan’s post with follow-up questions, with several people asserting that AI must be involved. Flanagan herself pointedly did not accuse the game’s developers of using AI in this case, but she made it very clear that she did not deliver the line in question. While many prominent actors and voice actors likeJennifer Hale and David Hayter have spoken out against AI voice generatorsin games, Flanagan made a point of staying out of the debate in this thread.
Another voice actor who worked onUltimate Ninja Storm Connections, Michael Schwalbe, announced on Twitter that he had sent some of the suspect clips to a friend who analyzed them with an AI-detecting software, and the software apparently detected a “blend of human and AI elements” in theUltimate Ninjavoiceover clips. However, it’s worth pointing out that AI detection tools are not always accurate. If Bandai Namco truly did use generative AI tools in creating these voice lines, then the company could find itself in hot water: as Schwalbe points out, “This was a union game. Generative AI use is supposed to be forbidden.” The unethical use of AI in this manner is one of the issues that recently promptedvideo game voice actors to consider going on strikealongside actors and writers in Hollywood.
Bandai Namco has issued a statement on the potential AI use inUltimate Ninja Storm Connections.It reads:
“Regarding the reports about several voice over lines in NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS, Bandai Namco Entertainment can confirm that the lines in question were not AI generated, but the result of inconsistencies during the editing/mastering process. We regret that this raised a concern with Naruto fans and the voice acting community. We are currently working to fix the voice lines in question, which will be patched in the near future.”
This controversy is the latest in a series ofAI-related disputes in the games industryas generative AI tools become more prevalent and mainstream. Opposition to the exploitative and unethical use of these tools continues to grow, but it remains to be seen whether the major studios will make any meaningful commitments to mitigating their harm.
It remains to be seen if AI was actually used inNaruto x Baruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connectionsor if there is another explanation.
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections
WHERE TO PLAY
Legendary ninjas reunite in the next exciting entry of the STORM series! NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS is an action/fighting game with fast-paced ninja battles and two different story modes.New playable characters join all past characters of the STORM series for the largest roster of ninjas ever!Select from more than 130 playable characters to fight in powerful ninja battles! In addition to an improved network battle experience, the new Simple mode option allows players to more easily perform various ninjutsu combos. Whether players are beginners or experts, everyone can enjoy heated battles with their favorite ninjas.For the first time ever, the history of Naruto and Sasuke’s rivalry has been recut and combined into one game!Combining original scenes from the Naruto anime with the high-quality battle experience expected of the STORM series development team, this game contains highlights from the beginning of Naruto’s story up to the final battle of the series. Relive the paths of two legendary ninjas!Experience a special next generation story!Play a new, original story where Boruto Uzumaki, the son of 7th Hokage and ninja of the new era, is drawn into a great battle involving the entire ninja world after meeting a girl in a popular online game.
