Crimson Desert Shuns AI Voices For Human Cast

Crimson Desert, the highly anticipated open-world action-adventure game from Pearl Abyss, is set to launch on March 19, 2026, and it’s already making waves for its approach to voice acting and immersive storytelling. In an era where artificial intelligence is increasingly used to generate voices in video games, Pearl Abyss has taken a clear stand: the main characters and key side quest NPCs in Crimson Desert are all voiced by real human actors, not AI. This was confirmed by Will Powers, the company’s director of marketing and head of strategy planning, during a revealing interview on the Dropped Frames podcast on February 15, 2026. During the hour-long conversation with YouTuber John “itmeJP” Paul McDaniel, Powers was candid about the studio’s philosophy. When asked whether the game’s vast array of NPCs would feature human-performed voices, he replied, “I’m not going to criticize other games, but all of our voices are done by humans.” However, he was careful not to overpromise, adding, “I’m refraining from saying that 100% of the NPCs have human voices [...] because if that’s not the case for even one NPC, I don’t want the internet to accuse me of lying. But yes, all the main NPCs and those in side quests have actors’ voices. The game features voice acting in different languages.” This transparency is a breath of fresh air in an industry where marketing hype often outpaces reality. According to Powers, the decision to avoid blanket statements about “100%” coverage was deliberate: “I’m categorically making the decision to not say 100% on anything too…if one NPC isn’t voice-acted, then I’m not a liar on the internet.” This level of honesty, especially in the run-up to a major release, is rare—and perhaps even a little risky—but it’s clearly intended to foster trust with players. Crimson Desert’s commitment to human voice acting extends across multiple languages. Powers highlighted that the game supports voice acting in Korean, English, and Chinese, among others, while offering more than 13 text localizations for players around the globe. He encouraged fans to check the game’s Steam page for the full list of supported languages, emphasizing the studio’s desire to make the world of Pywel accessible to as many players as possible. “We’re available across a ton of different languages with full localization as well as text localization,” he explained. But it’s not just the voice acting that’s generating buzz. Crimson Desert is being marketed as a “premium experience”—a phrase that carries real weight in today’s gaming landscape. Powers was unequivocal: when the game launches for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, it will not feature microtransactions. “You buy one time, and that’s it,” he said, distancing the title from the increasingly common trend of in-game purchases and add-ons. This approach is likely to resonate with players who have grown weary of microtransactions and so-called “live service” models that can sometimes sap the fun from what should be immersive adventures. The scope of Crimson Desert is ambitious. The game will feature multiple playable characters and a variety of armaments, including, intriguingly, a mech. While Powers was careful not to reveal every gameplay detail, he did note that Crimson Desert is not a Soulslike title—a genre known for its punishing difficulty—but he was quick to add that players shouldn’t expect an easy ride. “It shouldn’t be defined as an ‘easy’ game,” he noted, suggesting that players will need to bring their A-game if they hope to survive and thrive in Pywel’s harsh world. The narrative at the heart of Crimson Desert is rich and layered, following the intertwined fates of Greymanes Kliff, Oongka, Yann, and Naira. According to details shared by Powers on the Dropped Frames podcast and reported by GamingBolt, the story unfolds during a period of great tension and conflict among the people of Pywel. This already fragile peace is shattered when the Black Bears, a rival faction, launch a devastating attack on the Greymanes, killing many of its members. In the aftermath, Kliff and the surviving Greymanes are scattered across the land, forced to regroup and rebuild their once-proud clan before facing off against the formidable Myurdin, leader of the Black Bears. This setup promises a blend of personal drama and large-scale conflict, with players taking on the roles of multiple protagonists as they navigate a world teetering on the brink. The inclusion of diverse armaments and playable characters hints at a variety of playstyles and strategic choices, while the absence of microtransactions means that every player’s journey will be shaped by their own decisions and skills, not by the size of their wallet. What sets Crimson Desert apart from many of its contemporaries is its clear commitment to authenticity and player experience. In a time when AI-generated voices are becoming more common—sometimes to the detriment of immersion—Pearl Abyss is betting that players will value the nuance and emotion that only human actors can provide. As Powers put it, “All of our voice acting is by humans.” It’s a simple statement, but one that carries significant weight for fans who crave believable characters and compelling stories. The game’s support for multiple languages and extensive localization further underscores Pearl Abyss’s ambition. By making the world of Pywel accessible to players around the world, the studio is aiming to create a truly global experience—one where players from Seoul to Seattle can lose themselves in the same rich tapestry of conflict, camaraderie, and adventure. Of course, with great ambition comes great expectation. Players will be watching closely to see if Crimson Desert can deliver on its promises—of a premium, microtransaction-free experience, of a world brought to life by real actors, and of a story that resonates across cultures and languages. If Powers’s candor and the studio’s track record are any indication, there’s every reason to be optimistic. As the March 19 release date approaches, anticipation is building. Will Crimson Desert usher in a new era of immersive, human-driven storytelling in games? Fans around the world are eager to find out—and, for once, they might just get exactly what they’ve been promised.