Nicholas Thurkettle, Lycaon's VA said that they were allegedly not notified of this replacement ahead of time.
HoYoverse recently rolled out version 1.6 of Zenless Zone Zero, featuring Silver Soldier Anby’s banner, a re-run of Burnice’s banner, new events, and game improvements. However, the update also introduced a sudden and unexpected change: the replacement of two voice actors for two agents: OBOL Squad’s Soldier 11 and Victoria Housekeeping’s Von Lycaon.
Voice Actors allegedly replaced without advanced notice
When the news broke out, Nicholas Thurkettle, the original voice actor for Lycaon, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that he was unaware of the recasting. He shared his experience in a post on 12 March:
According to Thurkettle, he was available for recordings at the time but had allegedly not received any communication from HoYoverse or Sound Cadence since October. A few hours later, Emeri Chase, the former voice of Soldier 11, also addressed her removal:
Chase stated that she was replaced allegedly because she refused to work outside the coverage of a SAG Interim Agreement during the strike for AI protections.
Thurkettle quoted her post, adding that while he was not a SAG member, he had also taken a stand against AI reproducing his voice. As a result, he lost the role, which he described as “the best thing that’s ever happened in [his] professional life.”
The SAG-AFTRA union went on strike in 2024 due to growing concerns over AI usage in video games, particularly in voice acting. While HoYoverse does not directly employ voice actors, it relies on third-party studios that may be affected by the strike.
Players Noticed Lycaon’s Absence
Lycaon has been part of Zenless Zone Zero since its initial lineup, and fans have already noticed how silent the Wolf Thiren has been in the last couple of months since the last quarter of 2024. His voice lines were skipped even in the main story, such as in version 1.4: Storm of Falling Stars in December, where most agents made an appearance for the year-end final battle. At the time, Thurkettle posted on X, stating that he was “not permitted to comment on the behind-the-scenes business.”
On 1 March, almost two weeks before ZZZ's update on Lycaon's S11's VAs, he then clarified on X that rumours about his scheduling conflicts were false:
He addressed speculation that his commitments—such as working with an opera company and an orchestra on tour or producing a podcast—prevented him from recording. He reaffirmed his dedication to the role, saying, “I loved every minute playing Lycaon and want to voice him in every chapter.”
Sound Cadence addresses the issue
In response to the controversy, Sound Cadence, the studio hired by HoYoverse for English-speaking voice talent, released a statement on social media.
"Every contract at our studio features explicit AI protections, regardless of union status," the statement read, emphasising that many of their staff are actors themselves. The studio noted that recasting decisions are never made lightly and acknowledged the challenges of communication during such situations. "While sometimes our hands are tied as to what we can communicate and when, we understand how personally actors take their roles, and always want to ensure that no one is ever blindsided."
They also expressed respect for actors navigating the ongoing strike and voiced full support for SAG-AFTRA’s AI negotiations. The statement highlighted the passion of fan communities for both video game characters and the actors behind them, stating that this serves as proof of the importance of real, human performances. Sound Cadence affirmed its commitment to bringing voices to its clients' projects "in the most human way possible."
Other agents who had no EN VAs in the last few months included Rina, Grace, and Koleda, although no updates regarding their casting had been announced. HoYoverse has not commented on the said issue.
