Wayne June, Darkest Dungeon’s Famed Narrator, Has Passed Away

The gaming community mourns the loss of Wayne June, the iconic voice behind the narrator in the Darkest Dungeon series, who has sadly passed away. The announcement was made across various Darkest Dungeon social media channels and the game's official website. At the time of writing, the cause of his death has not been disclosed to the public.

Wayne June's journey with Darkest Dungeon began when creative director Chris Bourassa and Red Hook co-founder Tyler Sigman reached out to him, initially to narrate the trailer for the first game. This collaboration quickly blossomed into a significant and rewarding partnership. Bourassa and Sigman praised June's distinctive baritone voice, which added a unique grandeur to the game's narrative. "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 tweeted, expressing his gratitude and respect.

Bourassa revealed to PC Gamer that his initial introduction to June was through the narrator's readings of H.P. Lovecraft's 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 stories to life. This led them to the idea of having June narrate the trailer, and eventually, the game itself. "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 recounted. June's voice became a defining element of Darkest Dungeon's identity, continuing into the sequel.

Fans have expressed their deep condolences and gratitude for June's contributions, which significantly enriched their experiences with Darkest Dungeon. Many have celebrated his memorable voice, often quoting his lines from the game in their tributes. Some fans even shared that they find themselves quoting his lines in everyday life, a testament to how deeply his narration 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.