Jennifer English, the acclaimed voice actress behind Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3 and Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has withdrawn from her role as the lead character Gwendolyn in Eclipse Glow Games' upcoming title, Tides of Annihilation, citing personal health reasons. The studio announced English's departure on July 17 via X, formerly Twitter.
"We have some sad news to share, that Jennifer English will be stepping away from her role as the English voice of Gwendolyn, the main protagonist in Tides of Annihilation due to personal health reasons," Eclipse Glow Games stated. "She will continue to support the project in an advisory role." The studio confirmed that English informed them of her decision earlier in June, expressing understanding and respect for her prioritizing her well-being.
English was publicly attached to the role of Gwendolyn, the primary protagonist in the Western-inspired fantasy game, since its reveal at a February 2025 State of Play event. While the departure is a setback, English is expected to remain involved in a consulting capacity, assisting the studio in finding her replacement and contributing to the game's development. She has not personally commented on the situation via her social media channels.
Despite stepping back from Tides of Annihilation, English is still involved in other video game projects. She recently appeared in a cast highlight video for Emberville and confirmed her role as the Empress of Eldveil in Soulframe at TennoCon. Her performance as Maelle in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 garnered her several awards, and Gwendolyn was poised to be her next significant role in a major AAA game.
Tides of Annihilation is described as a Western-inspired fantasy game drawing from Arthurian legend, differentiating it from other recent Chinese action titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Blood Message, which are rooted in Chinese history. The gameplay is said to take cues from titles such as Devil May Cry, and it will feature boss battles against giants reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus.
Eclipse Glow Games plans to feature the new voice actress for Gwendolyn in a public demo available to attendees at Gamescom in August. The studio has not yet announced who will be taking over the role or how this casting change might affect the game's development timeline, as Tides of Annihilation currently lacks a release date. The game is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.