Summary
Erika Harlacher-Stone, the beloved voice actress of Venti inGenshin Impact, has implied that she will be back to play the Anemo Archon in Version 5.6. As a result of the SAG-AFTRA strike,Genshin Impacthas struggled to bring back a majority of its English cast since Version 5.1. While players were initially patient with the situation, the recasting of Kinich in Version 5.5 caused controversy. Takanashi, a voice actor based in Tokyo, replaced John Patneaude as Kinich. He is the first (and so far only) recast made byGenshin Impactas a result of the strike.
While the situation around the strike and HoYoverse is complex, voice actors such as Joe Zieja have attempted to clarify some of the misconceptions circulating across theGenshin Impactcommunity. Given thatGenshin Impactisn’t a union project, it is technically not a part of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and would thus be more accurate to call the situation a collective refusal to work. As such, it has enabled certain voice actors to return to the role, as well as allowedPaimon inGenshin Impactto retain her English voice throughout the strike.
Version 5.6 takes the Traveler and Paimon back to Mondstadt for its Archon Quest, and as such, players are already bracing for another silent update inGenshin Impact. Unfortunately, the upcoming Archon Quest is meant to be a major crossroads in the overarching story, as it will bring important lore figures to the fold, such as Varka, Durin, and the Hexenzirkel. That being said, Erika Harlacher-Stone has revealed thatVenti inGenshin Impactcould have his voice back during Version 5.6, as she has been eager to return to the role for months.
Venti’s Voice Actor Could Return to Genshin Impact in Version 5.6
Erika is adored by theGenshin Impactcommunity, and her return would certainly make Venti fans happy. While it remains to be seen if her choice will trigger other voice actors to come back toGenshin Impact, Harlacher-Stone notably took a stance against SAG-AFTRA when she claimed that the union was sending threatening letters to her and other actors (including financial core members). Corina Boettger, the voice of Paimon, spoke out against the claim. Allegra Clark, who voicesBeidou inGenshin Impact, expressed a desire for the situation to be resolved soon and lamented how much the industry has changed within the span of a year.
From a content standpoint, Version 5.6 is split into two major parts: the Mondstadt storyline and its Flagship Event in Fontaine.Genshin Impactplayers can expect all new characters to be voiced going forward, but fan favorites, such as Navia, will remain silent in Version 5.6.Escoffier will make her debut inGenshin Impactduring Version 5.6, and fans will be able to obtain the 5-Star Cryo Polearm on the Event Banners. Version 5.6 is set to launch on July 02, 2025.
