Thursday March 13 – Added comments from Emeri Chase and Sound Cadence Studios.
The new Zenless Zone Zero 1.6 patch replaces the voice actors for agents Soldier 11 and Von Lycaon. The two actors who had previously voiced the pair, Emeri Chase and Nicholas Thurkettle respectively, say the decision was taken after they refused to record lines during the SAG strike over AI protections for performers. They also add that they only found out they had been replaced with the launch of the new ZZZ update.
The Zenless Zone Zero 1.6 patch notes confirm that the update “changes the English voice actors for agents Lycaon and Soldier 11, and replaces the corresponding voice lines.” In particular, wolf butler Von Lycaon has been fairly prominent across several recent story arcs in the gacha game over the past few months, but his lines have been unvoiced since December. Now, actors Chase and Thurkettle say they learned about the change at the same time as the Zenless Zone Zero community.
First initiated in July 2024, the SAG-AFTRA videogame strike is looking for protections against the use of artificial intelligence for performers, with particular consideration around concerns that AI models might be used to replicate an actor’s voice or create a digital replica of them without sufficient consent or compensation. Both of the voice actors who have been replaced in the action game’s new update mention these concerns in their statements.
“Hey proxies,” Chase writes in a post via social media, “I was replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protections, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry. Any other theories that pop up are incorrect.” They explain that the lack of agreement meant the project “does not offer the union-enforced AI rights we are fighting for.”
“Many actors are choosing to voluntarily withhold work on these categories of projects because we feel it is the best way to support the union’s fight,” Chase continues. They say, “I knew that by withholding work it was possible I’d be replaced, though of course I hoped they would choose to leave her silent until I was able to return. I found out the role was recast today alongside all of you.”
“I loved working on ZZZ and would have been thrilled to return to the project post-strike or with an Interim Agreement,” Chase concludes. “But I stand by my choices regardless of the outcome. All my best wishes to the cast and the production team. Thank you for a great ride, proxies.”
Thurkettle also states his surprise at the news. “Proxies, I’m learning about this as you are and I share your shock,” he writes. “Neither HoYoverse nor Sound Cadence [the studio used to record English-language voices for ZZZ] has communicated with me since October. I’ve been fully available and recorded multiple voice jobs in that time. I am trying to learn more and absorb this news.”
Thurkettle has previously withheld comment on Von Lycaon’s unvoiced appearances, stating that he was unable to talk about the situation while under contract for ZZZ. In response to Chase’s statement, he explains, “I’m not SAG but what game companies want to do with AI is an existential threat. I took a personal stand to ask for protection, and had to be willing to give up the best thing that’s ever happened in my personal life. I stand by my choice.”
PCGamesN has reached out to HoYoverse to ask for comment, along with Chase and Thurkettle, and will update this story with any additional statements if they are provided.
Update – Thursday March 13
Speaking to PCGamesN, Chase says: “This strike on the Interactive Media Agreement is probably the most important one the game industry has ever had. We have been on strike since July 26, 2024 and our bargaining partners have refused to find common ground on our request for consent and compensation if a performer’s voice is to be used to train generative AI. Their most recent proposal ‘agrees’ to get actors’ consent and compensate them for AI training based on work performed under the new agreement but goes on to suggest that they should be allowed to train AI using any audio recorded under the old 2020 Interactive Agreement, or anything they can find on the internet. Without asking the actors first or paying them a cent. This is an absolutely insane offer that would put every single actor at risk of having their voice stolen from past union work, past non-union work, video content creation, or interviews. This is no longer a fight for fair wages, this is a fight for bodily autonomy and the right to our own voices.
“While there are many non-union projects that do offer AI protection clauses in their contracts, if a company were to violate these contracts, or if a different company altogether were to pull clips from the internet and train AI on them, it would be up to the actor to pay for the legal services necessary to fight that battle. I can’t speak for every single actor, but most of us don’t have the money sitting around to do that at a moment’s notice. Knowing what our bargaining partners have proposed, I can’t in good conscience provide work on any project not covered by the SAG Interim Interactive Agreement or a SAG Tiered Budget Agreement. Those are the only contracts right now that adequately protect my control over my own voice by putting SAG-AFTRA’s legal team in my corner should anything go wrong.”
Additionally, Sound Cadence Studios, which handles the English voiceovers for Zenless Zone Zero, shares a statement via social media. “Every contract at our studio features explicit AI protections, regardless of union status. Much of our staff are actors themselves, and could not in good conscience offer other performers work we would not be willing to take.
“The decision to recast talent on any project is not made lightly. While sometimes our hands are tied as to what we can comunicate and when, we understand how personally actors take their roles, and always want to ensure that no-one is ever blindsided. Our studio has and will continue to honor legacy casting on all projects we’ve inherited whenever possible, and always reach out to actors to reprise their roles before investigating any other options.
“We respect the decisions of all actors in navigating the ongoing strike, and fully support SAG-AFTRA in its AI negotiations. The passion of fan communities for videogame characters and the people who bring them to life is further eviddence that real, human actors matter, and we will continue to bring voices to our clients’ projects in the most human way possible.”
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