Wayne June, Voice of Darkest Dungeon, Dies

Darkest Dungeon’s Beloved Narrator Wayne June Has Passed Away

The Ancestor and The Academic Lives On

The gaming world mourns the loss of Wayne June, the iconic voice behind the narrator in the Darkest Dungeon series. June's passing was announced across various Darkest Dungeon social media channels and the game's official website. As of now, the cause of his death has not been disclosed to the public.

The announcement detailed how Darkest Dungeon's creative director, Chris Bourassa, and Red Hook co-founder, Tyler Sigman, initially approached Wayne June to narrate the trailer for the first game. This marked the beginning of what they described as an "incredible and fulfilling collaboration." Bourassa praised June's distinctive baritone voice, noting its majestic quality that enhanced every narrative he delivered. "He was a consummate professional, and his love of his craft was an inspiration. His inimitable work is woven into the very fabric of our industry in a way that cannot be forgotten. It is one of my greatest honors to have written for him this past decade. Though I never got to shake his hand, I knew him to be a friend. Thank you, Wayne," Bourassa shared in a heartfelt tweet.

Bourassa revealed to PC Gamer that he first discovered June through his captivating readings of H.P. Lovecraft audiobooks, which he listened to regularly before co-founding Red Hook. He even shared these CDs with Sigman, who was equally captivated by June’s ability to breathe life into the written word. This experience led them to the idea of incorporating June's voice into Darkest Dungeon.

"I think more verbatim, it was, 'We should get somebody like Wayne June to narrate the trailer.' Then we thought—wait, Wayne June reads stuff for a living! Maybe he would do it! The work of course was so good that we decided to add a narrator to the game itself," they recounted. June’s voice became an integral part of Darkest Dungeon's identity and continued into the sequel.

Fans have expressed their heartfelt condolences, thanking June for his significant contributions that enriched their Darkest Dungeon experiences. Many lauded his iconic voice, often quoting his memorable lines from the game in their tributes. Some fans shared how they found themselves repeating his lines in everyday life, a testament to how deeply his delivery resonated with them long after playing the game. May Wayne June rest in peace, and may his voice continue to live on in the hearts of all who cherished his work.