Voice acting in games like Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) isn't just about reading lines. It’s about energy. If you’ve spent any time in New Eridu, you know the vibe is high-octane, stylish, and kinda chaotic. Honestly, the cast has to keep up with that pace or the whole urban-fantasy aesthetic just falls apart.
People always argue about subs vs. dubs. It's a classic debate. But with ZZZ, the English cast has actually pulled some serious weight, even if the road hasn't been perfectly smooth. There’s a lot of "behind-the-scenes" drama and technical shifts that most players completely miss while they’re busy dodging Ethereals.
The Real Stars of New Eridu
You've probably spent hours listening to Belle and Wise. They are your main link to the world. Belle is voiced by Courtney Steele in English, while Stephen Fu takes on Wise. If Stephen Fu sounds familiar, it’s probably because he’s everywhere—he’s voiced Lex in Unicorn Overlord and Lancelot in Granblue Fantasy: Relink. He brings this grounded, calm energy that balances out the madness.
Then you have the agents. Anby Demara, the burger-loving combat specialist, is voiced by Sam Slade. Sam is a HoYoverse veteran at this point; you might know her as Topaz from Honkai: Star Rail.
The Japanese cast is equally stacked. We're talking industry titans. Atsumi Tanezaki voices Anby in Japanese. If you follow anime, you’ll recognize her immediately as Frieren or Anya Forger. The range is wild.
Quick Look at Key Cast Members
- Billy Kid: Clifford Chapin (EN) / Yu Hayashi (JP)
- Nicole Demara: Nadia Marshall (EN) / Yu Serizawa (JP)
- Ellen Joe: Giselle Fernandez (EN) / Shion Wakayama (JP)
- Zhu Yuan: Alaina Wis (EN) / Marina Inoue (JP)
- Von Lycaon: Will de Renzy-Martin (EN - Current) / Chikahiro Kobayashi (JP)
The Recasting Controversy Nobody Saw Coming
Everything was fine until it wasn't. Around March 2025, a massive shift happened that caught everyone off guard. Nicholas Thurkettle (the original voice of Lycaon) and Emeri Chase (Soldier 11) were suddenly replaced.
It wasn't a performance issue. It was about the SAG-AFTRA strike and AI protections.
Emeri Chase was pretty vocal about it. She basically said she wouldn't work on projects that didn't have specific union-enforced AI protections. Even though ZZZ wasn't technically a "struck" game because production started before the strike, many actors stood their ground in solidarity.
Thurkettle, despite not being in the union, took a personal stand too. He called AI an "existential threat" to the craft.
The weirdest part? They found out they were replaced through the Version 1.6 patch notes. No phone call. No email. Just... gone from the credits. It was a messy moment for the community, and it sparked a huge conversation about how much power these massive gaming studios actually have over their talent.
The Lucy and Soukaku Mystery
Earlier on, even before the big strike drama, Lucy and Soukaku had their English voices swapped. This one was even more hush-hush. Fans noticed immediately because the "vibe" changed.
The original Lucy had this sharp, delinquent-princess edge. The new version, voiced by Elsie Lovelock, is great, but she's definitely different. Soukaku’s original voice had a raspy, gremlin-like energy that people loved. The replacement felt a bit more "generic anime girl" to some.
HoYoverse rarely gives a play-by-play on why these things happen. Usually, it's contract disputes or scheduling conflicts behind the scenes at the recording studios like Sound Cadence.
Why the Voice Casting Matters for Gameplay
You might think, "Who cares? I play on mute anyway."
Big mistake.
ZZZ relies heavily on "vibe." The combat is rhythmic. The banter between characters during a chain attack actually helps with timing and awareness. When Billy Kid (Clifford Chapin) starts yelling about his "starlight" guns, it adds a layer of personality that makes the grind feel less like a chore.
Notable Roles You Didn't Notice
Check out Allegra Clark. She voices Fairy, your AI assistant. She’s also Acheron in Honkai: Star Rail and Beidou in Genshin Impact. The woman is a chameleon. She can go from "ruthless pirate" to "monotone AI" without breaking a sweat.
And then there's Kira Buckland as Qingyi. Kira is legendary. You know her as 2B from Nier: Automata. Bringing that level of talent into a gacha game shows how much budget is being thrown at the audio department.
The Secret Process of Being Cast
Most people think HoYoverse sits in a room and hand-picks every actor. Not really.
They work with external agencies. The agency handles the casting calls, the auditions, and the logistics. HoYoverse gives them a "brief"—a character bio, some art, and a description of the personality.
The agency sends back maybe three options. HoYoverse picks one.
Sometimes, an actor auditions for a tiny NPC role and kills it so hard that the directors offer them a main character instead. That’s actually what happened with Nadia Marshall (Nicole). She initially went for smaller roles, but her sass was so perfect for Nicole that they bumped her up.
Looking Ahead: The Future of ZZZ Audio
As we move further into 2026, the industry is still grappling with the AI stuff. You'll likely see more cast changes if contracts aren't tight.
If you want to keep up with who is voicing your favorite new Agent, the best way is to watch the "ZTALK" behind-the-scenes videos. They’ve started showing more of the cinematics team and the voice directors.
What You Should Do Next
- Switch languages: Seriously, try the Japanese or Chinese dub for a week. It changes the entire feel of the game.
- Follow the actors: Most ZZZ VAs are very active on social media (Bluesky and X). They often share stories about how they found the character's voice.
- Check the patch notes: HoYoverse hides a lot of "Adjustments to Voice Lines" in the fine print. If a character sounds different after an update, that’s where the answer is.
New Eridu is a living world. The voices might change, but the style stays the same. Just keep an ear out—you never know when a legendary voice might pop up in a random side quest.
Next Steps: You can check the current in-game "Gallery" or "Agent" screen to see the updated credits for each character, as some actors are still being added for the 2.x patches.
