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Darkest Dungeon Dev Rejects AI Clone of Late Narrator Wayne June

Emily Chen 0 comments 7 min read
Darkest Dungeon Dev Rejects AI Clone of Late Narrator Wayne June

Red Hook Studios will not use artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of Wayne June, the narrator whose work defined Darkest Dungeon across a decade of development. Studio co-founder Chris Bourassa made the commitment clear in a Reddit post, saying the team would "never, ever erode" the late actor's legacy through digital simulation.

June died in January 2025 after lending his distinctive voice to the original game in 2016 and its 2023 sequel. His narration became inseparable from the franchise's gothic atmosphere and world-building. Bourassa described the collaboration as "one of my life's greatest honors" and recalled that though they never met in person, he considered June a friend.

What makes Red Hook's stance more remarkable is that June himself had offered permission to train an AI model on his voice near the end of his life. Bourassa revealed the offer in his Reddit response, explaining that June had previously "staunchly opposed" the idea but seemed to change his mind to help the studio and fans find a path forward. Red Hook declined the offer and donated to June's family instead.

"His voice and delivery was human," Bourassa wrote, "and I'm forever grateful I got to write for him." The decision reflects a broader resistance among creative figures to AI-generated performances. Last month, Master Chief actor Steve Downes publicly opposed AI recreations of his voice. Robert Downey Jr. has threatened legal action against executives who use artificial intelligence to replicate his likeness, alive or after death. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced earlier this month that AI performances will be barred from Oscar consideration starting in 2027.

Red Hook's commitment also comes as other projects face backlash for pursuing AI recreation. The film As Deep as the Grave drew criticism from audiences for announcing it would feature an AI-generated performance of actor Val Kilmer, who died in 2024.

Author Emily Chen: "Bourassa's choice to honor June's actual performances rather than chase an algorithmic copy is the right call, and it's refreshing to see a studio put legacy over convenience."

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