Destiny 2's Ikora Voice Change Addressed as Bungie Re-Records with Original Actor

Bungie is actively re-recording dialogue for Destiny 2 to restore the authentic voices of characters like Vanguard Ikora Rey.

With the release of The Edge of Fate, the first expansion in the Year of Prophecy lineup, fans noticed that Ikora Rey, originally voiced by Gina Torres, sounded strikingly similar to Savathun from The Witch Queen. This was due to Ikora’s voice being performed by Debra Wilson, who also voices Savathun.

Bungie had previously announced in May that changes were coming to the English voice cast for characters like Orin, Chioma, and Ikora. On July 15, the studio confirmed that the original voice actors were initially unavailable for The Edge of Fate but are now re-recording lines for affected characters. While no specific timeline was provided, Bungie is targeting a future update for these changes.

For now, players may encounter unfamiliar “temporary” voices or silent characters in-game. In such cases, similar to Destiny 2: Heresy, subtitles will be enabled for story content.

Though Bungie did not directly mention the SAG-AFTRA game performers’ strike, it noted that prior “conflicts” have now been resolved, aligning with SAG-AFTRA’s suspension of its strike over AI protections. The SAG-AFTRA strike began in July 2024 after failed negotiations on AI provisions with major game companies, including Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games, with over 98% of union members voting to strike.

Bungie recently shared details on upcoming Destiny 2 content, including two new expansions and significant seasonal and core game updates for both paid and free players under the Year of Prophecy banner. This marks the first year with four major content releases, including two paid expansions and two free updates.

Besides Destiny 2, Bungie is developing its Marathon reboot, announced in May 2023. The project faced challenges during its alpha test and controversy over plagiarized work discovered in Marathon. Discussions have emerged about how the game’s launch could shape the studio’s future. Last month, Bungie announced an indefinite delay for Marathon, citing “strong and clear” player feedback.