--- title: "CD Projekt Red uses generative AI to 'bring back' Geralt's voice in 'Songs of the Past': studio calls the case 'special'" description: "CD Projekt Red uses generative AI by Respeecher to adapt the voice of Polish actor Jacek Rozenek in the 'Songs of the Past' expansion, which changed after a stroke. The studio calls the case 'special' and morally justified." date: 2026-11-12T14:25:49.465Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/cd-projekt-red-ai-geralt-voice-songs-past tags: [the-witcher-3, cd-projekt-red, generative-ai, respeecher, voice-acting, songs-of-the-past] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # CD Projekt Red uses generative AI to 'bring back' Geralt's voice in 'Songs of the Past': studio calls the case 'special' ![Geralt of Rivia with witcher eyes in armor against the background of a seaport](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/12/cd-projekt-red-ii-golos-geralta-ballady-proshlogo/cd-projekt-red-ii-golos-geralta-ballady-proshlogo-1.webp) ## Key Points - In the Polish version of the DLC 'Songs of the Past', Geralt's voice is modified by generative AI Respeecher. - The reason is Jacek Rozenek's stroke in 2019, after which his voice became lower and rougher. - The algorithm was trained on tens of thousands of lines from the base game The Witcher 3 with his permission. - CDPR will not use the algorithm in the future: Rozenek's new voice will fit Geralt in The Witcher 4. The story expansion "Songs of the Past" for the open-world RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt from CD Projekt Red is being created with the use of generative artificial intelligence — at least in the Polish version of the add-on. This was told to Game File by CDPR localization producer Mikołaj Szwed: the studio turned to the generative software of the company Respeecher to modify the voice of the Polish voice actor for Geralt in the expansion. According to Szwed, "this was a special case," and it explains why AI is used here not to create new content from scratch, but to restore the sound familiar to players. ### Reason: stroke and the actor's changed voice Jacek Rozenek has been voicing Geralt in the Polish versions of The Witcher by CD Projekt Red since the very first installment of the franchise. In 2019, the artist suffered a stroke and for several months could not even speak. In 2021, Rozenek returned to work, but he was no longer the same: after a difficult recovery, his voice changed — it became lower and rougher. At CD Projekt Red, they feared that Polish players would find it jarring if Geralt sounded different from scene to scene: one line spoken by the "old" Rozenek, and the next by the "new" one. ### How the Respeecher algorithm worked With Rozenek's permission, CD Projekt Red decided to use AI from Respeecher to give the actor's new voice its old sound. The algorithm was trained on tens of thousands of lines that the artist recorded for the base game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Thus, in the Polish version of the add-on, Geralt's voice will be as close as possible to the one players have been accustomed to for years, rather than the current voice that changed after the illness. At the same time, according to the publication, Rozenek has not heard his AI double and, it seems, does not plan to. ### "Morally justified and approved by the actor" According to Szwed, the situation with Rozenek is one of those cases where the use of artificial intelligence is "morally justified, approved by the affected actor, and aimed at the good." Rozenek himself shared: "The main thing is that this voice is as close as possible to my voice 12 years ago. I trust the game's creators completely. Regarding voice dynamics, I can play this role. Of course, it's good that the voices will be similar." That is, the actor does not refuse to participate and retains his live performance, while the AI only aligns the tonal foundation. ### Future: The Witcher 4 and release dates CD Projekt Red emphasized that they are not going to use the algorithm to modify Rozenek's voice in the future: the lower and rougher voice, in the studio's opinion, will suit the aged Geralt in The Witcher 4 perfectly. The "Songs of the Past" expansion will be released in 2027 for PC (Steam, GOG, EGS, Battle.net), PS5, Xbox Series X and S, as well as Nintendo Switch 2. The release of The Witcher 4 is expected in 2028 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S. ### Context: the Cyberpunk 2077 precedent This is not the first experience of CD Projekt Red working with Respeecher: the studio has already collaborated with this company to recreate the voice of a late Polish dubbing star in Cyberpunk 2077. Thus, the case with "Songs of the Past" fits into a wider practice of using generative AI to preserve vocal images in conditions where the original performer cannot physically reproduce them in the same quality — while, as CDPR emphasizes, only with the explicit consent of the interested parties. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [CD Projekt Red модифицирует польский голос Геральта в «Балладах прошлого» с помощью ИИ, но это «особый случай»](https://3dnews.ru/1151202) - Original source: quotes from CDPR localization producer Mikołaj Szwed and actor Jacek Rozenek, details of Respeecher work, release dates for DLC and The Witcher 4. - [CD Projekt Red модифицирует польский голос Геральта в «Балладах прошлого» с помощью ИИ, но это «особый ...](https://3dnews.ru/1151202/cd-projekt-red-modifitsiruet-polskiy-golos-geralta-v-balladah-proshlogo-s-pomoshchyu-ii-no-eto-osobiy-sluchay) - Link to related material on 3dnews.ru; content matches the article base. ## FAQ ### Why did CD Projekt Red use AI in 'Songs of the Past'? To ensure that in the Polish version of the add-on, Geralt's voice sounded as it did before: after a stroke in 2019, Jacek Rozenek's voice became lower and rougher, and the studio did not want the character to sound different from scene to scene. ### Does the actor himself agree to the use of AI? Yes. According to the CDPR localization producer, the case is approved by the affected actor; Rozenek stated that he trusts the creators of the game and wants the voice to be close to his voice 12 years ago. ### Will the AI voice be used in The Witcher 4? No. CD Projekt Red emphasized that they are not going to apply the algorithm to modify Rozenek's voice in the future — his current, lower and rougher voice, according to the studio, will suit the aged Geralt in the fourth installment. ### When will 'Songs of the Past' be released? In 2027 for PC (Steam, GOG, EGS, Battle.net), PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The Witcher 4 is expected in 2028 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S.