While business is booming for online games during this pandemic-related quarantine, story-centric MMORPGs seem to be having trouble getting specific types of work done from home – most specifically voiceover work. We’ve seen delays from both Star Wars: The Old Republic and The Elder Scrolls Online, and both games noted that voiceover work has been a significant factor since the actors can’t physically enter the sound studios to do it.
We’ll now add Guild Wars 2 to that growing list. It doesn’t sound as if the next entry in the Icebrood Saga living story season will actually be delayed – we’re expecting it next month – but ArenaNet did announce today that it’ll launch without voiceovers.
“Because the recording studio staff and voice actors who help bring Guild Wars 2 to life are also abiding by shelter-in-place guidance to keep the virus from spreading, we’ve chosen to release the upcoming third episode of The Icebrood Saga without voice acting,” the studio says. “This was a difficult decision to make, but we want to keep releasing content updates for the community to enjoy on a regular schedule. When it’s safe, we’ll create a high-quality studio recording so we can update the episode with voiced lines.”
The trailer for the next episode, which we now know is called No Quarter, is dropping next week, so stay tuned! In the meantime, here’s a fun little bit from the voice team.
