Veteran voice actor Ben Diskin, who offered the voice of Mega Man within the 2018 launch Mega Man 11, says he will not be returning to the collection as a result of Capcom refuses to make use of unionized voice actors.
Diskin is not the unique or solely voice of Mega Man, however Mega Man 11 is each the latest and finest promoting entry within the sport collection. That naturally made him the presumptive alternative for the character within the upcoming Mega Man: Twin Override, which is anticipated out in 2027, and so his withdrawal comes as a shock.
“With a damaged Blue Bomber coronary heart, I’m now not the voice of Mega Man,” Diskin wrote immediately on Bluesky. “I used to be requested to return for Mega Man: Twin Override, however solely on the situation I work with out the protections of a union contract.
Article continues under
“I used to be instructed there are ‘full AI protections in place that assure in writing that [my] voice won’t ever be used for AI growth’ however was additionally instructed ‘with certainty, from [Capcom], that the challenge won’t go union’.”
Diskin’s assertion comes the day after the SAG-AFTRA union issued a “Do Not Work” order (by way of Rockman Nook) for Mega Man: Twin Override, saying Capcom “has did not provoke the signatory course of” that should be accomplished earlier than the union will authorize its members to start engaged on a challenge. The union warned that any members who do work on the sport whereas the order is in place might face disciplinary motion.
The larger subject for Diskin, although, is that whereas Capcom has promised that “AI protections” shall be in place, there is not any manner for him, as a person, to carry it to these phrases.
“The one option to implement non-union contracts like this includes personally taking big corporations like Capcom to court docket and suing if I assumed they’d used AI. I haven’t got the psychological, emotional, or financial energy to outlive a protracted authorized battle,” Diskin wrote.
Preserve updated with an important tales and the perfect offers, as picked by the PC Gamer group.
“In my coronary heart, I need to imagine Capcom would by no means use AI… However in my HEAD, I am conscious that mainly each main company is trying to incorporate generative AI to economize. The online game trade is dealing with report layoffs and large quantities of uncertainty. I would like a union contract to really feel secure.”
The rise of generative AI, and its embrace by some sport makers, is an actual downside for voice actors, which is why it was such an enormous sticking level within the practically year-long voice actors strike that solely absolutely concluded in July 2025. The union mentioned after its members ratified the settlement that the brand new contract affords “necessary guardrails and features round AI, together with the requirement of knowledgeable consent throughout varied AI makes use of and the flexibility for performers to droop knowledgeable consent for digital reproduction use throughout a strike.”
Diskin referenced that strike in his announcement, writing, “I do not suppose it is sensible to strike for over 11 months to get enforceable AI abuse protections after which flip proper round and return to work with out them.” He additionally mentioned he provided to work on a lower-budget contract if Capcom would conform to doing the sport below the union, but it surely refused.
“It has been an honor voicing Mega Man in Mega Man 11, the best-selling sport within the collection’ historical past and watching Mega Man reclaim his rightful place as a gaming icon,” Diskin concluded. “I hope Mega Man: Twin Override is much more profitable than 11 and that everybody enjoys all of the exhausting work the devs are placing into it.”
