Darkest Dungeon’s Beloved Narrator Wayne June Has Passed Away
The Ancestor and the Academic Lives On
The gaming community 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. At the time of this writing, the cause of his death has not been disclosed to the public.
The announcement highlighted the profound impact June had on the game. Darkest Dungeon's creative director, Chris Bourassa, and Red Hook co-founder, Tyler Sigman, initially approached June to narrate the trailer for the first game. This collaboration blossomed into a decade-long partnership that Bourassa described as "incredible and fulfilling." He lauded June's distinctive baritone voice, which added a majestic quality to the narration, elevating the entire experience. "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 his introduction to June came through the narrator's readings of H.P. Lovecraft audiobooks, which he listened to regularly until the founding of Red Hook. He even shared these CDs with Sigman, who was equally captivated by June's ability to bring the eerie world of Lovecraft to life. This admiration led them to the realization that June's voice was perfect for 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 explained. June's voice became a cornerstone of Darkest Dungeon's identity, continuing into the second installment.
Fans have expressed their deepest condolences, thanking June for his significant contributions that enriched their Darkest Dungeon experiences. Many have celebrated his iconic voice, often quoting memorable lines from the game in their tributes. Some fans have even shared that they find themselves quoting his lines in everyday life, a testament to how deeply his delivery resonated with them. May Wayne June rest in peace, and may his voice continue to live on in the hearts of all who cherished his work.
