Tomb Raider Remastered Faces Legal Challenge Over Alleged AI Voice Use: Françoise Cadol Responds

Tomb Raider Remastered, spanning Tomb Raider IV–V–VI, has sparked a renewed interest among franchise enthusiasts and gamers worldwide, thanks to its revamped release on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and digital storefronts like the eShop.

However, excitement about the collection has been marred by significant controversy regarding the alleged use of artificial intelligence to reproduce the voice of iconic French voice actor Françoise Cadol, who originally portrayed Lara Croft in both the classic '90s video games and the French-dubbed Angelina Jolie films. According to recent reports, Cadol claims that her voice was replicated using generative AI in the latest update to Tomb Raider IV–V–VI Remastered without her consent.

The updates, released by Aspyr Media, allegedly feature French voice lines that sound strikingly similar to Cadol’s performance yet deviate in quality and emotional nuance.

Upon noticing discrepancies between her original recordings and the new versions following an August patch, Cadol pursued legal recourse against Aspyr Media. Represented by her legal team, Françoise Cadol formally requested the immediate withdrawal of the Tomb Raider IV–V–VI Remastered collection from sale.

The legal notice additionally demands transparency regarding the total sales figures related to the remastered edition.

Her lawyer, Jonathan Elkaim, described the AI-generated voicework as "immediately recognizable for its metallic quality—choppy and lacking proper intonation, or, conversely, poorly executed in places—although the timbre clearly echoes Françoise’s own." The legal move highlights escalating concerns within the voice acting and video game localization industries surrounding AI’s rapidly advancing role, particularly when it comes to respecting artists’ rights and likeness. This situation was first brought to public attention by French Tomb Raider fans on social media, who noted suspicious similarities and questioned whether Cadol had participated in the new recordings.

Further investigation revealed that she had not been contacted or given permission for her voice to be used in the remasters, fueling debate on social platforms and within the gaming community.

The case has also caught the attention of Paul Douglas, co-creator of the original Tomb Raider, who has publicly commented on the broader implications faced by voice actors as technology evolves. The controversy around Tomb Raider Remastered is part of a growing movement in France, as local voice actors band together under the hashtag #TouchePasMaVF (“Don’t Touch My French Version”).

The campaign strives to protect the integrity of French voice performances from unlicensed AI replication, emphasizing the importance of consent and fair compensation in the digital age. Aspyr Media, the developer behind the remastered edition, has yet to make an official statement regarding the ongoing legal dispute.

Multiple industry outlets, including Game Developer, continue to follow the story, as it may set significant precedents for both future remasters and the broader application of AI in creative industries.

As of this writing, the Tomb Raider IV–V–VI Remastered collection remains available on the Nintendo Switch eShop, pending resolution of the dispute.

Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch Tomb Raider AI Aspyr Tomb Raider Remastered Françoise Cadol Aspyr Media Crystal Dynamics Dark Horse Comics Game Developer Tomb Raider IV–V–VI Remastered Paul Douglas Toby Gard