After the release of Update 1.6 for Zenless Zone Zero, fans were surprised to learn that the original voice actors for the characters Von Lycaon and Soldier-11 had been replaced, seemingly without prior notification. This development followed the long-awaited launch of Update 1.6, which introduced new characters and storylines that have excited the community.
The excitement reached a peak on March 11, the day the update finally dropped. HoYoverse, the game’s developer, had been building anticipation with teasers about upcoming content like Soldier-0 Anby joining the limited-time S-Rank Banner and unveiling new events. The update also rolled out two fresh narrative segments focusing on Anby’s backstory. Notably, players were introduced to a new A-Rank agent named Pulchra, alongside various sandbox adjustments. Among these changes was the introduction of new voices for Soldier-11 and Von Lycaon.
In the past few updates, players had noticed that Von Lycaon’s character appeared only in text during cutscenes, lacking any voice narration. While this approach might seem strange and potentially disrupt immersion, it’s a consequence of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which began in July 2024 over issues like AI integration and safeguarding actors’ rights. With no end to the strike in sight, many studios have had to adapt. However, HoYoverse appears to have moved forward by replacing the original voice actors, as detailed in the 1.6 patch notes.
When Update 1.6 launched, Nicholas Thurkettle and Emeri Chase, who originally voiced Von Lycaon and Soldier-11, respectively, discovered their replacements through social media. Both actors expressed their surprise and disappointment online but also reinforced their commitment to the strike. They acknowledged how much they cherished their roles in the game but felt their broader principles were worth standing up for. Given the prominence of their characters in this new update, it appears that HoYoverse preferred to avoid the continued use of silent characters.
The SAG-AFTRA strike’s impact has been felt in other games as well. For instance, Bungie informed fans that the strike affected Destiny 2’s Episode Heresy, resulting in silent portrayals of characters like Commander Sloane and the antagonist Xivu Arath. In these instances, developers replaced voice acting with subtitles and added accessibility features to enhance text readability, accommodating players as best they could during the strike.
As Zenless Zone Zero continues to evolve, fans are left wondering how the ongoing strike might influence future updates and character presentations.
