The protagonist of the upcoming action RPG Phantom Blade Zero is now being voiced by Roger Craig Smith, known for his work as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog and Ezio Auditore in the Assassin's Creed series. Smith steps in for Jay Maksenuk, who had previously lent his voice to the character in promotional materials.
Developer S-Game has not publicly stated the reason for the last-minute casting change. Game Informer noted that the replacement appears to have occurred shortly after the game's review period commenced. Players will hear Smith's performance as the protagonist, known as Soul, when the game launches.
Smith's extensive voice acting credits also include roles such as Batman in various DC projects, Daigo Dojima in Yakuza Kiwami 3, and Alden Dorne in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Maksenuk has also worked on several video games, including voicing V in the recently released Once Human.
Phantom Blade Zero has seen a strong launch week, achieving over 730,000 concurrent players on Steam. The game features Soulslike-inspired boss fights, and guides are available for players seeking assistance with walkthroughs. A review of the game indicates it addresses common criticisms of boss encounters in the genre.