Report: EA using genAI for commentator voiceover in NHL 27
Veteran sports commentator John Buccigross has revealed that EA Sports is utilizing generative AI to create voiceovers for commentary in the upcoming professional hockey simulator, NHL 27. Speaking on the Chirpin Zebras podcast, Buccigross confirmed that EA demonstrated the technology using his own voice, noting that while the results were impressive, they still require manual correction to ensure accuracy.
According to reports first spotted by Insider Gaming executive editor Mike Straw and later covered by IGN, John Buccigross shared a specific anecdote from his interaction with EA's development team. During the alleged demonstration, the AI generated a line of commentary that read: "Score! And the crowd gets out of the chairs!" Buccigross immediately pointed out the error, explaining that fans sit in seats, not chairs. He noted that while such mistakes are expected during the learning phase, they highlight the current limitations of the technology.
"So, little things like that, you gotta go back and listen because words matter," Buccigross stated. He added that the process involves manually putting in corrections so that future iterations can learn to say "seats" instead of "chairs." Despite these initial hiccups, Buccigross expressed a pragmatic attitude toward the adoption of the technology: "If that means less work but the same check, I'll take it." He acknowledged that while AI might get things wrong initially, it has the potential to become smarter over time.
This development comes amidst a broader industry debate regarding the role of generative AI in game development. While many developers have expressed concerns about the corrosive effects of AI on creativity and quality, EA's leadership remains optimistic. In 2024, EA boss Andrew Wilson stated that 60 percent of their development processes could be impacted by generative AI, describing it as a technology they are "embracing deeply." He reinforced this stance to investors later that year, claiming the tech is at the "very core" of EA's business strategy.
EA has been actively investing in this area, partnering with Stability AI in late 2025 to co-develop AI models, tools, and workflows. The publisher claims these collaborations empower their development teams to "reimagine how content is built." However, while Buccigross seems open to his voice being replicated for commentary purposes, it remains unclear whether EA is applying this technology to other aspects of NHL 27 or if the implementation will extend beyond simple voice replication.
Game Developer has contacted EA for further clarification on the extent of AI usage in the title and how they plan to balance automation with quality control. As the industry continues to grapple with the implications of these tools, titles like NHL 27 serve as a case study for how major publishers are integrating generative AI into their production pipelines.
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