Wayne June, Narrator of Darkest Dungeon, Dies

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 news of June's death was shared across various Darkest Dungeon social media channels and the game's official website. As of now, the cause of his passing has not been disclosed to the public.

In a heartfelt statement, Darkest Dungeon's creative director Chris Bourassa and Red Hook co-founder Tyler Sigman reflected on their journey with Wayne. They recounted how their collaboration began when they approached June to narrate the trailer for the first game. "It has been an incredible and fulfilling collaboration," Bourassa stated, praising June's iconic baritone voice that brought a unique magnificence to the game's narrative. He described June as a consummate professional whose passion for his craft was truly inspiring. "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 concluded in his tribute.

Bourassa revealed to PC Gamer that his initial discovery of Wayne June came from listening to June's readings of H.P. Lovecraft audiobooks, which he shared with Sigman. Both were captivated by June's ability to breathe life into the texts. This led to the pivotal decision to incorporate June's voice into 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 explained. June's voice became a cornerstone of the game's identity, continuing into the sequel.

Fans have expressed their deepest condolences, thanking Wayne for his significant contributions that enriched their experiences with Darkest Dungeon. Many lauded his distinctive voice and memorable lines, with some sharing that they often find themselves quoting his phrases in everyday life. The impact of his work is evident in the heartfelt tributes from the community. May Wayne June rest in peace, and may his voice continue to resonate in the hearts of all who were touched by his art.