The world of Teyvat is buzzing with the latest news from HoYoverse: Genshin Impact’s Version 5.7 update will introduce new English voice actors for two incredibly prominent characters, Keqing and Paimon. This is big news, especially since both characters have been voiced by the same actors since the game’s launch in Version 1.0.

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Out With the Old, In With the New

Kayli Mills, the long-standing voice of Keqing, and Corina Boettger, who has voiced Paimon since day one, are no longer in their roles. While Keqing’s recent appearances have been limited as the storyline moved beyond Liyue, Paimon is undeniably the most vocal character in the game, making this change particularly noticeable for players.

According to the 5.7 patch notes, “After Version 5.7 is updated, Keqing and Paimon’s English VAs will be updated (this change only applies to new content in Version 5.7, historical content will be gradually updated in subsequent versions).” This means we’ll hear the new voices in the latest content, with older dialogues being updated over time.

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The Strike’s Lingering Impact

The reasons behind these recasts are tied to the recently concluded SAG-AFTRA strike. Kayli Mills was a vocal supporter and participant in the strike, leading to Keqing’s Version 5.3 voice lines remaining unvoiced in the English dub. Corina Boettger, while continuing to voice Paimon during the strike, recently announced her departure from the role amidst further controversy.

HoYoverse has chosen not to reveal the names of the new voice actors at this time. This decision seems to be a protective measure, likely to shield them from the kind of negative backlash that previous replacement VAs, like Jacob Takanashi (Kinich in another HoYoverse title), have faced.

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A Growing List of Recasts

Keqing and Paimon aren’t the first HoYoverse characters to be affected by the strike. We’ve seen similar recasts in other titles, including Koleda, Grace, and Rina in Zenless Zone Zero and the Trailblazer in Honkai: Star Rail.

While the SAG-AFTRA strike has officially ended with a new agreement in place, it’s clear the ripple effects are still being felt across the video game industry. It’s possible we could see even more recasts in HoYoverse’s games as the long-term consequences continue to unfold.

On a brighter note for some, the VAs for Aether and Lumine, the Traveler’s protagonists, have confirmed their return to Genshin Impact, though their voices won’t be in Version 5.7 content.

What are your thoughts on these changes? Share your reactions in the comments below!