Aloy Voice Actor Responds to AI Leak, Calls for Performer Protections

Ashly Burch, the voice actor behind Aloy in the Horizon series, has spoken out following the leak of an AI-driven tech demo featuring her character. In a video statement posted on her TikTok, Burch revealed that Guerrilla Games informed her the demo did not use any of her voice or facial data and was not part of active development. However, she expressed deep concerns about the broader implications of AI in game performance and its potential impact on actors.

Burch, who is currently supporting the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike against video game companies over AI-related issues, emphasized the need for protections in the industry. She stated that performers should have the right to consent, be fairly compensated, and be informed whenever an AI version of their likeness is created. “If we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse, no protections, no way to fight back,” she warned, adding that this future “scares” her as someone who deeply values game performance as an art form.

The leaked AI demo, earlier reported by Gaming.News, featured an interactive version of Aloy powered by AI technology, designed to engage in real-time conversations with players. The demonstration used Aloy from the Horizon franchise and shows her interacting with a PlayStation staff member and was promptly taken down by Sony.

While Burch clarified that the tech demo was not an active Guerrilla project, she expressed concerns about the industry’s rapid adoption of AI without proper safeguards. “Game companies wanting to use the technology isn’t the problem,” she said. “The problem is that we are currently on strike, and the bargaining group will not agree to give us common-sense protections.”

Burch reiterated her support for the strike and encouraged members of the gaming community to stand with performers in the fight for ethical AI usage. “I love game performances so much, and I believe that we deserve to be protected,” she concluded.

The SAG-AFTRA video game strike, which began in july of 2024, revolves around concerns over AI usage, fair compensation, and workplace protections for voice actors and motion capture performers in the gaming industry. The union is demanding consent and compensation requirements before studios can replicate an actor’s voice, likeness, or performance using AI. Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and major gaming companies—including Activision, EA, and Sony—have stalled, with publishers refusing to agree to the proposed protections.

The ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game strike has intensified amid recent AI-related controversies involving major game developers. Notably, two voice actors from miHoYo’s Zenless Zone Zero, Emeri Chase and Nicholas Thurkettle, were replaced after refusing to work under a contract that lacked SAG-AFTRA protections. Chase, a union member, and Thurkettle, a non-member, cited concerns over working conditions but did not explicitly state AI misuse as the reason for their departure.

Additionally, indie developer Serene Questworks faced backlash for allegedly replacing the voice cast of its upcoming game, Castle of Secrets, with AI-generated performances. Voice actor Mika Nerida claimed that the studio planned to modify her voice using AI rather than hiring a human cast, raising concerns about the growing trend of AI replacing performers without consent or compensation.