'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

Darkest Dungeon developer Red Hook Studios has confirmed it will not use artificial intelligence to replicate the voice of the late narrator Wayne June. In a response on the Darkest Dungeon subreddit, studio co-founder Chris Bourassa assured fans that Red Hook will 'never, ever erode' June's legacy by using AI to mimic his performance. Bourassa revealed that June had offered permission to train an AI on his voice in one of his final emails, despite previously opposing the idea. 'I declined, and we donated to his family anyway,' Bourassa said. Red Hook announced June's passing in January 2025, with Bourassa calling it 'one of my life's greatest honors to have written for him.' June's narration brought the franchise's dark world to life in the original 2016 game and its 2023 sequel. Bourassa emphasized that the studio will never use AI to replicate his work, stating, 'His voice and delivery was human, and I'm forever grateful I got to write for him.' The gaming industry has seen growing concerns over AI replacing actors, with figures like Steve Downes and Robert Downey Jr. speaking out against AI recreations.