Darkest Dungeon Creator Refuses to Use AI for Late Narrator’s Signature Voice

Wayne June is inseparable from Darkest Dungeon. Much like Logan Cunningham’s iconic narration in Supergiant Games’ Bastion, every hard-fought victory and gut-wrenching loss in Red Hook Studios’ dark fantasy dungeon crawler resonates with June’s hauntingly sorrowful voice. He passed away in January 2025, and director Chris Bourassa recently confirmed that he would never resort to generative AI to replicate his unique presence.

“In one of his last emails to me, Wayne gave us permission to train an AI on his voice, something he’d firmly opposed before the end,” Bourassa shared on the Darkest Dungeon subreddit this week, addressing fans speculating on how a potential Darkest Dungeon 3 might honor the late actor’s extraordinary talents. “We never asked to do it. I think he was trying to prioritize the game/team/fans – offering us a ‘way forward’. I declined, and we donated to his family anyway.”

In contrast, Cyberpunk 2077 utilized generative AI to recreate the voice of the actor who portrayed Viktor Vektor in the Polish version of the game after his battle with cancer ended in 2021. “Do not f*cking do that,” warned Deus Ex voice actor Elias Toufexis when a modder attempted to insert his voice into CD Projekt Red’s sci-fi RPG using AI. Epic Games even had James Earl Jones voice Darth Vader in Fortnite through AI. Red Hook Studios is taking a stand where others have not.

“I would never, ever diminish his incredible and timeless performances by teaching a machine to mimic him,” Bourassa stated. “His voice and delivery were *human, and I’m forever grateful I got to write for him.”

June’s voice is particularly impactful in Darkest Dungeon 2, where the roguelike structure allows for deeper storytelling and heightened tension. “Wayne’s singular baritone and masterful cadence elevated everything he read. He was a consummate professional, and his passion for his craft was an inspiration,” Bourassa reflected upon his passing. “His inimitable work is woven into the very fabric of our industry in a way that cannot be forgotten.”