EA FC 26 uses AI to help create the commentary that players hear in a match, using the voices of the likes of Guy Mowbray.
Commentators are a key part of any football match, keeping fans watching at home up to date with what’s happening on the pitch and reacting to the biggest moments. That’s why the EA SPORTS FC series has its own commentary teams that narrate as you play.
There are thousands of different lines for any given situation or player, whether you’re passing around the back or bombing through on goal, and recording each one is no easy feat.
In an interview with the BBC, veteran broadcaster Guy Mowbray revealed that he has to come up with “10 different ways” of saying each phrase, to make sure it sounds natural. But turns out that the game also makes use of AI to help fill in some gaps.
EA FC 26 uses AI for some names
According to the article, the game uses AI to mimic Mowbray’s voice to create some of the voice lines of player names. This is done with his permission, and the devs explained that they don’t see it as a possible successor to real commentators.
“AI has long been part of our development pipeline – from animation to gameplay systems – and continues to support our teams in making better, more responsive football experiences,” EA told the BBC. “But when it comes to commentary and content, it’s always a collaboration with our talent – not a replacement.”
Of course, AI in video games is nothing new, as many studios have begun using it to create certain aspects of their games. Arc Raiders came under fire for using text-to-speech AI for many of its voice lines, and EA SPORTS has used it to help its players move like their real-life counterparts.
Given that there are over 17,000 different players in EA FC 26, it’s easy to see how this would speed things up compared to commentators sitting in a booth and recording the names for every single one.
However, given the divisive nature of AI, this may come as a surprise to fans who thought that everything they heard in EA FC 26 came from the real people.
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