Last Updated on December 12, 2024 by Jake Whitlock
Not surprisingly, Genshin Impact version 5.1 update, “The Rainbow Destined to Burn,” has lots of new content, including newly introduced characters and sections of the storyline.
Fans were unpleasantly surprised to find out that certain parts of the game don’t have English voice-overs. HoYoverse elaborated that “recording arrangements” are to blame for some content in this update not having English voices.
While HoYoverse would not say directly why this voice acting is still incomplete, many players think it could be the current SAG-AFTRA strike. A strike began in July 2024 involving voice actors fighting to gain better working conditions and to legally safeguard themselves against AI use in their field; now, this impact from the video game development is very clear.
Why Genshin Impact’s Genshin Impact 5.1 Update English Voice Acting is Missing
This has apparently dulled several scenes in Genshin Impact 5.1 update, particularly rather more often noticed when it came to the main story arc in Natlan, where many of the fan-favorite characters like Kachina and Kinich do not utter a word. Fans were eagerly waiting to hear more from them are now sorely disappointed. HoYoverse directly confirmed it in the patch notes that the dialogue in English is not a bug or a glitch.
SAG-AFTRA aims to improve the work conditions of voice actors and ensure that AI does not substitute their talent with hard-to-get permission. Voice actors have been protesting at various times, claiming that while AI is a great facilitator, it can also be extremely dangerous if put to bad use. An example of this problem includes the issue of AI-trained models that would succeed in previous voice actor performances without fair compensation or permission.
How the Strike is Shaping the Game After the Genshin Impact 5.1 Update?
It’s not the first HoYoverse game that has had to deal with voice-acting issues in English. Other games, like Honkai Star Rail, had to deal with delayed or absent voice-over material over the last couple of weeks. Because the management of Genshin Impact outsources the English voice-over work to studios outside of HoYoverse, one of them being Formosa Interactive, it seems the strike severely disrupted voice-overs for the game in English.
The patched- English voice-overs for the missing bits of Genshin Impact 5.1 update remain unannounced. Instead, many will start discussing whether or not to play through the present Archon Quest without voice or just wait until the English voice-overs become available. Still, waiting might mean that they will miss time-limited rewards.
The Broader Impact of the SAG-AFTRA Strike on the Gaming Industry
This current strike is having a domino effect on other games in the industry and not just Genshin Impact. Even trailers and promotional content get caught in the line of fire, as some marketing campaigns for games like Honkai: Star Rail recently found out that one or two of its latest trailers lacked English voice acting. Other games may feel the disruption in the efforts of English localization.
Some of the voice actors went out on strike and voiced their opinions on AI and the safety of their work. A popular voice actor Jennifer Hale also gave her two cents about the matter. In light of the use of AI in a manner that might harm the industry, Jennifer Hale was known to comment on the kind of tool AI could become, where one might either build something great or it could be used destructively.
The gaming industry is, therefore, challenged to rethink how it will approach voice acting moving forward. There are no signs of the SAG-AFTRA strike stopping soon. The developers can only live with the realization that the need for excellent voice performances, the strikes do not end overnight.
What’s Next for Genshin Impact Players?
For now, however, the English voice-overs for Genshin Impact will have to be played around. The story will continue unabated, but to some players, that may be jarring when those familiar voices seem to echo in the background—the same way that some players got worried about the Genshin Impact Mare Jivari leak. Others won’t care and will experience everything from the beginning in the original or another language voice-over.
If you are passionate about a fully immersive experience, then wait until you can play through the latest Archon Quest in English voice, but this is not currently available. How long or if this will even come is unknown, but a lot of fans are keeping their fingers crossed for it not to be too long. Meanwhile, HoYoverse keeps on releasing updates and content to keep the players hooked, including limited events and new characters.
The outcome of this strike could potentially change how voice acting operates for a while in the gaming sector. Until then, Genshin Impact players will have to await what’s to come next. This might be a very hard time for both voice actors and developers, yet the final outcome will surely come in handy for the gaming world.
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