Darkest Dungeon Dev Refuses to Use AI to Replicate the Voice of Wayne June
Darkest Dungeon developer Red Hook Studios has mentioned it will not use AI to replicate the voice of deceased voice actor Wayne June.
Studio co-founder Chris Bourassa spoke about how the passing of the iconic narrator will have an effect on the sequence going ahead in a reply to a post on the Darkest Dungeon subreddit (through Kotaku). He instructed followers to relaxation assured that Red Hook will “never, ever erode” June’s legacy by utilizing AI to try to copy its efficiency.
“In one of his last emails to me, Wayne gave us permission to train an AI on his voice, something he’d staunchly opposed prior to the end,” Bourassa mentioned. “We’d never asked to do it. I think he was trying to put the game/team/fans first – offer us a ‘way forward.’ I declined, and we donated to his family anyway.”
Red Hook confirmed that June had handed away in January 2025. Bourassa shared a message at the time, saying that it was “one of my life’s greatest honors to have written for him” for the 10 years the actor contributed his voice to Darkest Dungeon. He added, “Though I never got to shake his hand, I knew him to be a friend.”
June’s work on Darkest Dungeon helped convey its dim-lit world to life with the launch of the authentic in 2016 and once more with the sequel in 2023. Bourassa is all too conscious of the essential function the narration performed in the franchise, which is precisely why you will not hear a hole imitation made by synthetic intelligence in any future installments.
“I would never, ever erode his incredible and timeless performances by teaching a machine to sound like him,” Bourassa added in the Reddit reply. “His voice and delivery was *human, and I’m forever grateful I got to write for him.”
Fears of AI changing each the residing and the lifeless have solely heightened in recent times. Master Chief actor Steve Downes spoke out against AI versions of his voice in January of this 12 months. In 2024, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. threatens to sue any govt who recreated his likeness utilizing synthetic intelligence, whether he is alive to see it happen or not.
As Deep as the Grave came under fire from movie fans simply this 12 months after the crew behind it introduced that it will characteristic an AI recreation of actor Val Kilmer, who died last year. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, in the meantime, announced rule updates earlier this month that can bar AI performances from being nominated for Oscars in 2027.
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He’s greatest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be certain to give him a comply with on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).