Phantom Blade Zero’s Lead Voice Actor Was Seemingly Replaced At The Last Minute
Phantom Blade Zero launched this week with a new voice actor for its protagonist Soul. Roger Craig Smith, best known for voicing Sonic the Hedgehog, has replaced Jay Maksenuk in the role. The swap appears to have occurred shortly after the game’s review period began, making it a last-minute casting change.
Developer S-Game has not publicly explained the reason for the replacement. Maksenuk’s voice still appears in promotional trailers that were released before the change, creating an inconsistency between marketing materials and the final product. Both actors have established credits in video game voice acting, though Smith’s prominent role as Sonic gives him broader recognition among gaming audiences.
The timing and lack of transparency surrounding the replacement has drawn attention from the gaming community. Without an official statement from S-Game, the exact circumstances remain unclear—whether it was a creative decision, a scheduling conflict, a contractual issue, or another factor entirely. The replacement was apparently finalized in time for launch, allowing Smith to voice the character in the final version of the game.