Apex Legends VA Strike Is Affecting The Game

If you’ve noticed things feeling a little off in Apex Legends lately — no new voice lines for items, no pings for Power Swords, no lore updates — you’re not imagining it. Behind the scenes, Apex is being hit hard by a major voice actor strike, and it’s starting to show.

“We are asked to shoot ourselves in the foot.”

From silent new content to missing character interactions, here’s what’s really going on — and why it might be a while before things return to normal.

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What’s Missing in Apex Right Now?

Players have started pointing out that new additions like the Power Sword, Arsenals, and Respawn tokens don’t have any voice lines. No pings. No interactions. Even the in-game lore that normally accompanies new seasons has seemingly vanished.

Why? According to Grrt and ongoing industry developments, it’s because voice actors haven’t recorded new lines in over 8 months.

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The SAG-AFTRA Strike and Its Impact

Here’s what Pascale Chemin, Wraith, said

“Before being even called in for a recording session of a video game, the studio sent me (and the 31 other VA in the casting) a mail containing an annex of confidentiality and handover directly from the publisher. I needed to accept these terms before being able to go work. I thought so when I read through them and a legal expert specialised in audiovisual confirmed it: these terms weren’t acceptable. I was now forced to give up the role I had been working on for almost 6 years. In no way could I force the rest of the casting members to do the same, but one thing was certain: if we all refused, it could maybe have an impact. Otherwise, it would have been in vain.

Without any hesitation, the 31 other VAs all refused to sign this annex. We wrote a collective letter of refusal that we sent to the publisher and are waiting for an answer. If we aren’t united now so that a clause that protects our voices can be officially added in our contracts – and not just for us here, but for every video gamedubbing studios – we’ll never get one and we’ll be heading for a disaster.

Of course, to refuse to work in the present day is nonsensical. There is barely any work available for some (many) of us, if any, and we are increasingly struggling with money. Yes, a salary would be welcome. But we aren’t simply asked to work. We are asked to give up our expertise to train the generative AI that will replace us tomorrow. We are asked to agree to what we specifically fight against. We are asked to shoot ourselves in the foot. We are asked to support AI.” -Translated by Rouk’

In July 2024, the SAG-AFTRA union (which many Apex voice actors are a part of) announced a strike aimed at video game companies — including EA. The core demands?

• Better pay
• Job protection
• And most importantly, protection from being replaced by AI clones of their voices

At the time, it was unclear if Apex would be affected. But now, it’s obvious — they’re running out of pre-recorded lines, and new content is launching with no voice Support.

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How This Impacts the Next Legend

Voice actors normally record dialogue every three months. But according to one Apex VA, it’s now been over 8 months since anyone stepped into the booth.

That means when Season 25’s new legend launches (Sparrow/Belva), most existing legends won’t be able to interact with her. No banter, no voice recognition, no pings.

Respawn may be able to find a non-union actor to voice the new legend — but every other legend will stay silent around her.

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Other Games Are Struggling Too

Apex isn’t alone. The strike is affecting other live service games:

• Destiny 2 shipped an update with completely unvoiced dialogue -Source
• Call of Duty has started recasting voice actors to avoid delays –Source
• Apex has lost its entire French voice cast, who refused to sign AI training clauses –Source

This is a widespread issue across the industry — and it’s not going away anytime soon.

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Is There Hope for a Resolution?

So far, negotiations haven’t made much progress. The union wants firm protections against generative AI being used to replace real actors, and publishers are pushing back.

There was a small sign of life recently when Horizon’s voice actor shared a photo from a recording booth — but it’s unclear whether that’s Apex-related or something else entirely.

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Why This Actually Matters

It might just seem like missing pings or quiet gameplay to some, but Apex’s voice acting is a huge part of its soul. The character banter, emotional story beats, and immersive ping system all rely on real actors doing the work — not AI clones.

And that’s what this strike is about: keeping that human element alive.

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Final Thoughts

Apex Legends is facing one of its quietest seasons ever — not because nothing’s happening, but because the people behind the voices are fighting to keep their jobs. As much as this silence hurts the lore, the character interactions, and even the gameplay, it’s a battle that could shape the future of the entire industry.

Let’s hope EA and other publishers find a fair deal with the union soon. Until then, enjoy the gameplay, support the actors, and keep slaying in silence.

Stay updated on all things Apex at ALegends.gg

Source:
Grrt on YouTube

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PCGamer

Frequently Asked Questions About the Apex Legends Voice Actor Strike