Genshin Impact latest trailer has something the last few have lacked: English voice acting. Fans are wondering if hearing the up-to-date 5.2 characters Chaska and Ororon will be a sign that voice acting will be brought back to the game with this update.
The characters of Genshin Impact went noiseless shortly after the SAG-AFTRA voice actor strike began in July. Cutscenes appeared in update 5.1 strangely peaceful and some of its latest trailers are now available Japanese or have not talking at all. But something may have changed recently in the way developer Hoyoverse handles voice actors.
The strike regulations state that voice actors can continue to work on games that were in production before August 25, including Genshin Impact. However, some of the characters are voiced by actors working for Formosa Interactive, one of 10 companies targeted by the SAG-AFTRA strike seeking clarification on its employ of generative artificial intelligence and negotiating compensation for generating material based on an actor’s voice or likeness. Riot Games uses the same production company to create League of Legends characters.
In comments on corrections in a previous update, Hoyoverse stated that the lack of English voices was “due to recording arrangements” and left it at that. Since then, the studio has not commented on the strike or the status of its contract with Formosa Interactive. There are rumors that he has partnered with another company that was not the target of the strike, but he has not confirmed whether this is true.
Gabriel Castro, who voices three characters in the game, he replied to a fan anticipating the return of English voices in the comments below today’s trailer suggesting nothing has changed:
“I know you want to see English VAs, but that’s entirely up to Hoyoverse! We, voice actors, deserve to be treated with respect and know that they won’t be messing around with artificial intelligence. It’s too important, but I hope we all come, come back soon and vote in the game!!”
It’s possible that the voices were recorded some time ago, or that these particular voice actors are affiliated with a separate company. Corina Boettger, who voices the floating midfielder Paimon, works under supervision a separate studiotherefore, her form was not changed.
With no comment from Hoyoverse, we’ll have to wait until November 20 when version 5.2 comes out to see what happens. Along with up-to-date characters, it will introduce two up-to-date companions, up-to-date bosses, up-to-date zones and another chapter in the current Archon story.
