CD Projekt RED ambitions for the upcoming role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077 seem to have no end. Even with the different language versions, there are no compromises.
When playing games with different language versions, the facial animations often fall by the wayside. The voice recordings are simply recorded and implemented in a different language without paying attention to lip-synchronicity.
That is obviously different with Cyberpunk 2077, as Miles Tost and Philipp Weber from CD Projekt RED have now made clear on Twitter. Apparently a special technique from JALI Research is used in the ambitious role-playing game, which allows facial animations to change depending on the respective language.
One thing I am particularly proud my colleagues have accomplished with this is having full lip syncs for dubbed languages that often get less support. <3 https://t.co/OWlvkKOb4q
— Miles Tost (@tostspender) October 20, 2020
One thing I am particularly proud my colleagues have accomplished with this is having full lip syncs for dubbed languages that often get less support. <3 https://t.co/OWlvkKOb4q
— Miles Tost (@tostspender) October 20, 2020
Obviously, this involves less effort than expected, since the technology apparently enables procedural facial animations and little manual intervention by developers is necessary.
JALI Research and CD Projekt RED have published a video that should explain the process in more detail.
Accordingly, the technology is apparently used for ten language versions, namely to all (!) Characters in the game world. Quite fascinating, especially since it’s not just about lip movements, but the entire facial animation, which is adjusted in each case. At 1:00 p.m. of the video, you can see how the technology works.