Dear ZOS, the lack of communication about the missing French voices is getting very embarrassing.

JiubLeRepenti · March 12

Dear ZOS,
Dear team,
Dear @ZOS_Kevin,
Dear @ZOS_GinaBruno,

First of all, sorry for the tags. But I want to be sure you see this thread.

As all the French-speaking players know, we've been missing the French voices since U47.

And as you probably know, many, many threads have been made about it. And we only got very few replies and almost no perspective (what's the problem, when will French voices be back, will we get French voices for U47/48/49 later, etc.).

I bet this is a highly sensitive topic for you, given the very few answers we got. But, according to what I've seen on many French-speaking boards/forums/subs, it's one of the (if not THE) biggest concerns for the French-speaking players.

The worst part of that is that we have absolutely no perspective for the future. We don't know if French voices will be back in a month, in a year, or if they are gone for good.

So please, could we get a clear and direct answer to these questions?

Why don't we have any French voices since U47?
Will we have AI-generated French voices as we recently saw with another (very) famous MMO and its last update?
Should we expect to lose French voices for good?
Will we get French voices for the last updates (47/48/49)?

Thanks,

Jiub

spartaxoxo · March 12

French Voice Over Support
Voiceover support for Updates 47, 48 and 49 and some voice lines for Pass Content 2025 are not available in French. For the best experience, we recommend enabling subtitles in the game. We look forward to bringing back French voice over as soon as possible and appreciate your understanding.

They put this in the most recent patch notes. It's not very specific but I figured I'd drop it here in case it was missed. I hope for the French players sake that y'all get better answers and this resolves soon. But idk if they can yet as it appears to be happening with multiple games.

Edit
There are articles about what's going on in a French newspaper where Microsoft gave a statement. This was about WoW but it appears to apply to other Microsoft games too. I would guess this one? I have to link to MMORPG's piece to show you it since I'm not French and can't navigate the linked article site since I don't speak French.

https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/the-ai-clause-undermining-wows-french-dubbing-and-beyond-2000137363

JiubLeRepenti · March 12

spartaxoxo wrote: »

French Voice Over Support
Voiceover support for Updates 47, 48 and 49 and some voice lines for Pass Content 2025 are not available in French. For the best experience, we recommend enabling subtitles in the game. We look forward to bringing back French voice over as soon as possible and appreciate your understanding.

They put this in the most recent patch notes. It's not very specific but I figured I'd drop it here in case it was missed. I hope for the French players sake that y'all get better answers and this resolves soon. But idk if they can yet as it appears to be happening with multiple games.

Edit
There are articles about what's going on in a French newspaper where Microsoft gave a statement. This was about WoW but it appears to apply to other Microsoft games too. I would guess this one? I have to link to MMORPG's opinion piece to show you it since I'm not French and can't navigate the linked article site since I don't speak French.

https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/the-ai-clause-undermining-wows-french-dubbing-and-beyond-2000137363

Yea, this is 100% AI-related to me. This is probably why the topic is that touchy.

And indeed, WoW is the MMO I was referring to in my initial post (I don't know if we can name other games here).

They added crappy (but, like, REALLY crappy) AI-French voices in WoW. It's not only about the voice itself, but also about the many grammar/syntax mistakes it makes. It sounds very bad.

spartaxoxo · March 12

JiubLeRepenti wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

French Voice Over Support
Voiceover support for Updates 47, 48 and 49 and some voice lines for Pass Content 2025 are not available in French. For the best experience, we recommend enabling subtitles in the game. We look forward to bringing back French voice over as soon as possible and appreciate your understanding.

They put this in the most recent patch notes. It's not very specific but I figured I'd drop it here in case it was missed. I hope for the French players sake that y'all get better answers and this resolves soon. But idk if they can yet as it appears to be happening with multiple games.

Edit
There are articles about what's going on in a French newspaper where Microsoft gave a statement. This was about WoW but it appears to apply to other Microsoft games too. I would guess this one? I have to link to MMORPG's opinion piece to show you it since I'm not French and can't navigate the linked article site since I don't speak French.

https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/the-ai-clause-undermining-wows-french-dubbing-and-beyond-2000137363

Yea, this is 100% AI-related to me. This is probably why the topic is that touchy.

And indeed, WoW is the MMO I was referring to in my initial post (I don't know if we can name other games here).

They added crappy (but, like, REALLY crappy) AI-French voices in WoW. It's not only about the voice itself, but also about the many grammar/syntax mistakes it makes. It sounds very bad.

I think we can name them. Just not promote or discuss them because discussion should be about ESO. Same as we shouldn't be getting into a discussion about the broader implications to society of AI.

But I think we should be okay just noting a statement by Microsoft was made in a French newspaper that they also wanted a more global audience to be aware of that pertains to games they own, since ESO is one of them.

ETA

I really hope ZOS answers your questions and confirms (or denies) if this is what's happening with ESO or not as well.

tsaescishoeshiner · March 12

I understand that ESO's owners want to sell AI features. But, as games like ESO are often positioned as artistic products (as opposed to just software), they can positively improve their reputation and trust by highlighting the creative human touch to sell their product, with limits on certain uses of AI/automation.

allochthons · March 12

@spartaxoxo Thanks for the link.

Ratzkifal · March 12

Reminder to Microsoft: France is not the only French speaking country in the world, and even if it was that's close to 70 million people you are failing to sell your product to. Maybe instead of thinking that Europe is a country, you should reopen your Bethesda France branch if you haven't already ever since you shut it down.

GeneralGrundmann · March 13

"French Voice Over Support
Voiceover support for Updates 47, 48 and 49 and some voice lines for Pass Content 2025 are not available in French. For the best experience, we recommend enabling subtitles in the game. We look forward to *bringing back* French voice over as soon as possible and appreciate your understanding."

Reading "bringing back" literally means to me, that right now french voice over is gone. It doesn't exist anymore. It's cancelled. Not supported any longer. With no existing schedule when/if it will come back.

twisttop138 · March 13

They should've just done what fallout 76 did. Very clearly state that there won't be French voice over due to things outside their control. Easy and done. They're like the least communicative and transparent mmo so if they can do it, ESO can.

Gabriel_H · March 13

spartaxoxo wrote: »

French Voice Over Support
Voiceover support for Updates 47, 48 and 49 and some voice lines for Pass Content 2025 are not available in French. For the best experience, we recommend enabling subtitles in the game. We look forward to bringing back French voice over as soon as possible and appreciate your understanding.

They put this in the most recent patch notes. It's not very specific but I figured I'd drop it here in case it was missed. I hope for the French players sake that y'all get better answers and this resolves soon. But idk if they can yet as it appears to be happening with multiple games.

Edit
There are articles about what's going on in a French newspaper where Microsoft gave a statement. This was about WoW but it appears to apply to other Microsoft games too. I would guess this one? I have to link to MMORPG's piece to show you it since I'm not French and can't navigate the linked article site since I don't speak French.

https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/the-ai-clause-undermining-wows-french-dubbing-and-beyond-2000137363

Paraphrasing: "We value our real voice actors, right up until we can save money by using their voices to train artificial ones"

DenverRalphy · March 13

JiubLeRepenti wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

French Voice Over Support
Voiceover support for Updates 47, 48 and 49 and some voice lines for Pass Content 2025 are not available in French. For the best experience, we recommend enabling subtitles in the game. We look forward to bringing back French voice over as soon as possible and appreciate your understanding.

They put this in the most recent patch notes. It's not very specific but I figured I'd drop it here in case it was missed. I hope for the French players sake that y'all get better answers and this resolves soon. But idk if they can yet as it appears to be happening with multiple games.

Edit
There are articles about what's going on in a French newspaper where Microsoft gave a statement. This was about WoW but it appears to apply to other Microsoft games too. I would guess this one? I have to link to MMORPG's opinion piece to show you it since I'm not French and can't navigate the linked article site since I don't speak French.

https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/the-ai-clause-undermining-wows-french-dubbing-and-beyond-2000137363

Yea, this is 100% AI-related to me. This is probably why the topic is that touchy.

And indeed, WoW is the MMO I was referring to in my initial post (I don't know if we can name other games here).

They added crappy (but, like, REALLY crappy) AI-French voices in WoW. It's not only about the voice itself, but also about the many grammar/syntax mistakes it makes. It sounds very bad.

To be fair, we can't the wrench because the mechanic doesn't know "Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty".

A French speaking AI could likely do just fine if the person who translated and composed the script was a fluent French speaker.

[caveat] I am in no way promoting or encouraging the use of AI. I won't debate that subject because it would be wildly off topic, and honestly I have no desire to do so.

twisttop138 · March 13

DenverRalphy wrote: »

JiubLeRepenti wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

French Voice Over Support
Voiceover support for Updates 47, 48 and 49 and some voice lines for Pass Content 2025 are not available in French. For the best experience, we recommend enabling subtitles in the game. We look forward to bringing back French voice over as soon as possible and appreciate your understanding.

They put this in the most recent patch notes. It's not very specific but I figured I'd drop it here in case it was missed. I hope for the French players sake that y'all get better answers and this resolves soon. But idk if they can yet as it appears to be happening with multiple games.

Edit
There are articles about what's going on in a French newspaper where Microsoft gave a statement. This was about WoW but it appears to apply to other Microsoft games too. I would guess this one? I have to link to MMORPG's opinion piece to show you it since I'm not French and can't navigate the linked article site since I don't speak French.

https://www.mmorpg.com/columns/the-ai-clause-undermining-wows-french-dubbing-and-beyond-2000137363

Yea, this is 100% AI-related to me. This is probably why the topic is that touchy.

And indeed, WoW is the MMO I was referring to in my initial post (I don't know if we can name other games here).

They added crappy (but, like, REALLY crappy) AI-French voices in WoW. It's not only about the voice itself, but also about the many grammar/syntax mistakes it makes. It sounds very bad.

To be fair, we can't the wrench because the mechanic doesn't know "Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty".

A French speaking AI could likely do just fine if the person who translated and composed the script was a fluent French speaker.

[caveat] I am in no way promoting or encouraging the use of AI. I won't debate that subject because it would be wildly off topic, and honestly I have no desire to do so.

As a mechanic, I'll have you know that the only time I say righty tightey lefty loosy is when I'm looking at it upside down. Who you been talking to?

Displaced_Salad · March 13

I've noticed a lot of talk about improved communication, but from what I can see, that only applies to whatever is on their priority list, which makes it not actually improved. I understand that not every topic can be personally replied to, but when there are months long and numerous posts about a subject, sometimes merged by mods, it seems that might merit some level of response. FFS, just say you don't know, if nothing else. Improved communication isn't improved if it only applies to the few and not the many.

darkriketz · March 14

DenverRalphy wrote: »

To be fair, we can't the wrench because the mechanic doesn't know "Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty".

A French speaking AI could likely do just fine if the person who translated and composed the script was a fluent French speaker.

[caveat] I am in no way promoting or encouraging the use of AI. I won't debate that subject because it would be wildly off topic, and honestly I have no desire to do so.

We have to have this conversation nonetheless, even if you don't like it, and it's even more relevant regarding TESO.
There are, in the Elder Scrolls lore, many original words and concepts, many different languages and accents too (to be honest I don't know if accents have been adapted in French because I've always played TESO in English for practical reasons, but I still care about French dubbing) and overall many reasons and occasions for an AI voice to make really avoidable mistakes.
My general principle, beyond the fact that I'm totally anti-generative AI, is that if humans need to review everything that is generated for it to be good or even acceptable, to the point that it just takes more time to do it with AI, then dismissing actual actors isn't justified at all. It's true that in France we care a lot about our voice actors and dubbing habit (I wouldn't say industry because it's too small and closed to deserve the word) and that we also have the ecological issues in mind, but in the end, no French dubbing in TESO because they're trying to figure out how to create it with gen-AI is an absolute and unforgivable lack of respect, like French speaking people don't matter at all.

We apparently don't even matter for our voice actors to be involved anymore.
And no, an AI wouldn't do "just fine", even with native French speaking people behind it.

Varana · March 15

At this point, I can only assume that ZOS has been given a gag order to not talk about this by higher-up management.

A similar issue is currently happening with German voice actors and Netflix who want to impose a similar contract.

rosee83 · March 16

Hello,

I would like to report an issue regarding the conformity of the content delivered in the 2025 Content Pass and in recent ESO updates.

At the time of purchase, the product was presented as fully localized in French. However, since Updates 47, 48 and 49, French voice-over is no longer provided, and some content is not translated at all. This creates a discrepancy between what was announced/sold and what is actually delivered.

According to the European regulation on digital content (Directive 2019/770), a digital product must remain consistent with the essential characteristics presented at the time of purchase. French localization was one of these essential characteristics.

I would also like to point out that I have purchased every chapter since the launch of the game, always in Collector’s Edition. However, under the current conditions and without proper French localization, I do not wish to continue buying new content.

We therefore request:
– either a return to conformity (restoration of French voice-over),
– or clear communication about the situation,
– or an appropriate commercial solution if localization can no longer be guaranteed.

Thank you in advance for an official and transparent response.