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

Darkest Dungeon’s Beloved Narrator Wayne June Has Passed

The Ancestor and the Academic Live 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 official game 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 series. Darkest Dungeon's creative director, Chris Bourassa, and Red Hook co-founder Tyler Sigman initially reached out to June to narrate the trailer for the first game. This marked the beginning of an "incredible and fulfilling collaboration." Bourassa praised June's distinctive baritone voice, noting its ability to elevate the 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 expressed in a heartfelt tweet.

In an interview with PC Gamer, Bourassa revealed that he first discovered June through his readings of H.P. Lovecraft audiobooks, which he listened to regularly up until the founding of Red Hook. He even shared the CDs with Sigman, who was equally captivated by June's ability to bring the book's world to life. This encounter inspired them to bring June on board 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 recounted. June's voice became an integral part of Darkest Dungeon’s identity, continuing into the second installment.

Fans expressed their deepest condolences, thanking June for enriching their Darkest Dungeon experiences. Many lauded his iconic voice, often quoting his memorable lines from the game in their tributes. Some fans shared how they found themselves quoting his lines in everyday life, a testament to the lasting impact of his delivery. May Wayne June rest in peace, and may his voice continue to resonate in the hearts of all who cherished his work.