SameTeem
Search titles only
By:
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Home
Forums
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
What's new
Featured content
Media
Resources
Free TeamSpeak Channel
TeamSpeak
TeamSpeak
Vote
Rank System
Make a Channel
Free Channel Information
Servers
Sourcebans
New posts
SameTeem
Home
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Featured content
Media
Resources
Free TeamSpeak Channel
TeamSpeak
Vote
Rank System
Make a Channel
Free Channel Information
Servers
Sourcebans
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
Download TeamSpeak Today
Proudly sponsored by TeamSpeak
Forums
News and Announcements
Gaming News
'His Voice and Delivery Was Human' — Darkest Dungeon Dev Says Red Hook Will Never Use AI to Replicate the Voice of Late Narrator Wayne June
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Admin" data-source="post: 71137" data-attributes="member: 1"><p><img src="https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2026/05/10/darkest-dungeon-2-wayne-june-1778451690563.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></p><p>Darkest Dungeon 2 developer Red Hook Studios has said it won't use AI to replicate the voice of deceased voice actor Wayne June.</p><p></p><p>Studio co-founder Chris Bourassa spoke about how the passing of the iconic narrator will affect the series going forward in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/darkestdungeon/comments/1t6ofpm/comment/okj65xk/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button" target="_blank">a reply to a post</a> on the Darkest Dungeon subreddit (via <a href="https://kotaku.com/darkest-dungeon-dev-would-never-use-ai-to-copy-deceased-narrators-iconic-voice-2000694393" target="_blank">Kotaku</a>). He told fans to rest assured that Red Hook will "never, ever erode" June's legacy by using AI to attempt to copy his performance.</p><p></p><p>"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 said. "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."</p><p></p><p></p><p>Red Hook <a href="https://x.com/DarkestDungeon/status/1885043495187980748?s=20" target="_blank"><u>confirmed</u></a> that June had passed 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."</p><p></p><p>June's work on Darkest Dungeon helped bring its dim-lit world to life with the launch of the original in 2016 and again with the sequel in 2023. Bourassa is all too aware of the important role the narration played in the franchise, which is exactly why you won't hear a hollow imitation made by artificial intelligence in any future installments.</p><p></p><p>"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."</p><p></p><p></p><p>Fears of AI replacing both the living and the dead have only heightened in recent years. Master Chief actor Steve Downes <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/i-dont-like-it-i-would-prefer-that-it-not-be-done-master-chief-actor-steve-downes-says-deceptive-ai-reproductions-of-his-voice-cross-a-line" target="_blank"><u>spoke out against AI versions of his voice</u></a> in January of this year. In 2024, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. threatened to sue any executive who recreated his likeness using artificial intelligence, <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/robert-downey-jr-says-hell-sue-any-executive-who-makes-an-ai-replica-of-himeven-after-hes-dead" target="_blank"><u>whether he is alive to see it happen or not</u></a>.</p><p></p><p>As Deep as the Grave <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/as-deep-as-the-grave-filmmakers-defend-recreating-val-kilmer-using-ai" target="_blank"><u>came under fire from movie fans</u></a> just this year after the team behind it announced that it would feature an AI recreation of actor Val Kilmer, who <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/val-kilmer-dies-batman-forever-the-doors-and-tombstone-star-was-65" target="_blank"><u>died last year</u></a>. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, meanwhile, <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/academy-awards-rule-updates-tackle-ai-multiple-nominations-for-the-same-actor-and-more-ahead-of-99th-oscars" target="_blank"><u>announced rule updates earlier this month</u></a> that will bar AI performances from being nominated for Oscars in 2027.</p><p></p><p></p><p><em>Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).</em></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/his-voice-and-delivery-was-human-darkest-dungeon-dev-says-red-hook-will-never-use-ai-to-replicate-the-voice-of-late-narrator-wayne-june" target="_blank">Continue reading...</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Admin, post: 71137, member: 1"] [IMG]https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2026/05/10/darkest-dungeon-2-wayne-june-1778451690563.png[/IMG] Darkest Dungeon 2 developer Red Hook Studios has said it won't 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 affect the series going forward in [URL='https://www.reddit.com/r/darkestdungeon/comments/1t6ofpm/comment/okj65xk/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button']a reply to a post[/URL] on the Darkest Dungeon subreddit (via [URL='https://kotaku.com/darkest-dungeon-dev-would-never-use-ai-to-copy-deceased-narrators-iconic-voice-2000694393']Kotaku[/URL]). He told fans to rest assured that Red Hook will "never, ever erode" June's legacy by using AI to attempt to copy his performance. "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 said. "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 [URL='https://x.com/DarkestDungeon/status/1885043495187980748?s=20'][U]confirmed[/U][/URL] that June had passed 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 bring its dim-lit world to life with the launch of the original in 2016 and again with the sequel in 2023. Bourassa is all too aware of the important role the narration played in the franchise, which is exactly why you won't hear a hollow imitation made by artificial 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 replacing both the living and the dead have only heightened in recent years. Master Chief actor Steve Downes [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/i-dont-like-it-i-would-prefer-that-it-not-be-done-master-chief-actor-steve-downes-says-deceptive-ai-reproductions-of-his-voice-cross-a-line'][U]spoke out against AI versions of his voice[/U][/URL] in January of this year. In 2024, Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. threatened to sue any executive who recreated his likeness using artificial intelligence, [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/robert-downey-jr-says-hell-sue-any-executive-who-makes-an-ai-replica-of-himeven-after-hes-dead'][U]whether he is alive to see it happen or not[/U][/URL]. As Deep as the Grave [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/as-deep-as-the-grave-filmmakers-defend-recreating-val-kilmer-using-ai'][U]came under fire from movie fans[/U][/URL] just this year after the team behind it announced that it would feature an AI recreation of actor Val Kilmer, who [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/val-kilmer-dies-batman-forever-the-doors-and-tombstone-star-was-65'][U]died last year[/U][/URL]. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, meanwhile, [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/academy-awards-rule-updates-tackle-ai-multiple-nominations-for-the-same-actor-and-more-ahead-of-99th-oscars'][U]announced rule updates earlier this month[/U][/URL] that will bar AI performances from being nominated for Oscars in 2027. [I]Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).[/I] [url="https://www.ign.com/articles/his-voice-and-delivery-was-human-darkest-dungeon-dev-says-red-hook-will-never-use-ai-to-replicate-the-voice-of-late-narrator-wayne-june"]Continue reading...[/url] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
News and Announcements
Gaming News
'His Voice and Delivery Was Human' — Darkest Dungeon Dev Says Red Hook Will Never Use AI to Replicate the Voice of Late Narrator Wayne June
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top
