February 20, 2025, 13:32 PST Supergiant has released a statement saying that it has not recast any of its characters in Hades 2. The full statement has been added further down this article.
The voice behind Athena in both the original Hades and its sequel Hades 2, Marin Miller, has shared a post on their personal BlueSky claiming that they may be recast in a "particular game that is very popular." According to Miller, if a recast does take place, it isn't because they "stepped away from the character willingly. It's because the employer refused to flip to an interim." In a follow-up post, the voice actor wrote that "it would be SUPER [sic] helpful if you wrote a GIANT [sic] email asking them to flip for their actors."
The emphasis on 'super' and 'giant' appears to imply that the employer is Supergiant, hinting that the "popular game" in question is which received an update with new content and voicework yesterday, based on Miller's implied allegations, they would not be able to return to the role for any future updates.
The interim Miller is referring to here appears to relate to the ongoing interactive media/videogame strike pursued by SAG-AFTRA. In a later post, quoting Miller's original one, the voice actor explained: "For those unaware, SAG-AFTRA is entering its seventh straight month of striking interactive projects for enforceable AI rights. SAG-AFTRA contracts are protected by their legal staff – I can't afford a lawyer without the union. I am only working on projects signed to a SAG-AFTRA INTERIM AGREEMENT."
Essentially, Miller appears to be alleging that Supergiant has not agreed to said SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement, meaning they would not be able to perform in any of the studio's projects.
Following Miller's posts and community speculation, Supergiant has now released a statement assuring that no characters have been recast for Hades 2 and that it gives the voice actors it works with industry-leading AI protections.
"Voice talent has been integral to each of our games," Supergiant says. Recently, questions arose here about how we work with our voice talent, which we want to address.
"Actors breathe life and humanity into everything we do, and over time, we've gone from working with a small number from our team to dozens of individuals around the world. We offer the strongest Al protections in the industry to our talent, as we think their work is irreplaceable. Our games are intentionally made by human beings; no generative Al is being used in the creation of the voiceover, artwork, or any other content that goes into them.
"We have not re-cast any of our characters in Hades II, and wish to keep working with each and every member of our wonderful cast."
Supergiant also says that while "none of our games have ever been subject to SAG-AFTRA contracts," it wishes the union the best in its efforts to improve industry protections.
The SAG-AFTRA strike was called last year on Friday July 26, with the union's official website explaining that it came to this decision after "more than 18 months of negotiations with some of the largest videogame companies ended without a deal. The employers rebuffed our proposals for consent, compensation and transparency around the use of A.I., and instead have countered with loophole-filled language that negates any protections they claim to offer."
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