Darkest Dungeon developer Purple 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 collection going ahead in a reply to a post on the Darkest Dungeon subreddit (through Kotaku). He informed followers to relaxation assured that Purple Hook will “by no means, ever erode” June’s legacy by utilizing AI to try to copy his efficiency.
“In a single of his final emails to me, Wayne gave us permission to practice an AI on his voice, one thing he’d staunchly opposed prior to the finish,” Bourassa mentioned. “We might by no means requested to do it. I feel he was attempting to put the sport/group/followers first – provide us a ‘method ahead.’ I declined, and we donated to his household anyway.”
Purple 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 best honors to have written for him” for the 10 years the actor contributed his voice to Darkest Dungeon. He added, “Although I by no means obtained to shake his hand, I knew him to be a good friend.”
June’s work on Darkest Dungeon helped carry 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 position the narration performed in the franchise, which is strictly why you will not hear a hole imitation made by synthetic intelligence in any future installments.
“I might by no means, ever erode his unimaginable and timeless performances by instructing a machine to sound like him,” Bourassa added in the Reddit reply. “His voice and supply was *human, and I am without end grateful I obtained to write for him.”
Fears of AI changing each the residing and the useless have solely heightened in recent times. Grasp Chief actor Steve Downes spoke out in opposition to AI variations of his voice in January of this yr. In 2024, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. threatened to sue any government who recreated his likeness utilizing synthetic intelligence, whether or not he’s alive to see it occur or not.
As Deep as the Grave got here beneath fireplace from film followers simply this yr after the group behind it introduced that it could characteristic an AI recreation of actor Val Kilmer, who died final yr. The Academy of Movement Footage Arts and Sciences, in the meantime, introduced 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 is finest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Ensure to give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).