Roger Craig Smith, known for his iconic roles as Sonic the Hedgehog, Ezio Auditore in Assassin's Creed, Batman, and Chris Redfield in Resident Evil, has been revealed as the new voice actor for the protagonist Soul in the upcoming action RPG, Phantom Blade Zero. He takes over the role previously held by Jay Maksenuk, who had been featured in earlier trailers and listed on IMDb.
Smith's casting was highlighted in the game's launch trailer. He is joined by Maggie Robertson, the voice of Lady Dimitrescu from Resident Evil Village. Additionally, action star Donnie Yen has contributed as a creative consultant and portrays Soul's father, Mó Yuan, through full performance capture.
Maksenuk's original involvement was noted on Reddit and IMDb, but his Reddit post has since been removed, and his IMDb credits no longer list Phantom Blade Zero. Representatives for both Maksenuk and Smith have been contacted for comment.
Phantom Blade Zero has already achieved significant commercial success, becoming a top seller on Steam by revenue and ranking highly in peak concurrent players, surpassing titles like PUBG and Dota 2. Its sales performance on Steam is notable, placing it ahead of games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Aion 2.
In a review, IGN awarded Phantom Blade Zero a 9/10, praising its smooth action, memorable boss fights, compelling combat, and confident presentation. The game also features extensive supporting content, including guides on game mechanics, weapons, accessories, and a developing walkthrough.