The beloved voices behind Genshin Impact's iconic Traveler siblings, Aether and Lumine, are officially making their way back to Teyvat. Zach Aguilar and Sarah Miller-Crews have publicly confirmed they will reprise their roles in future game updates, marking a significant development following the resolution of the SAG-AFTRA strike that left many English-dubbed characters silent for months. Fans breathed a collective sigh of relief, as fears of potential recasting for the protagonists had been simmering within the community.

Behind the Silence: The Strike's Impact

The prolonged absence of key voices stemmed from the SAG-AFTRA strike that began impacting the game with Version 5.1 in October 2024. Union voice actors, including those for Genshin Impact, ceased work on the title due to the strike's rules prohibiting work on non-union projects. Central demands focused on stronger protections against the use of generative AI in voice work and other industry concerns.

• Duration: Affected content from Version 5.1 onwards.

• Result: Major characters went unvoiced during critical events and story quests.

• Recent Shift: SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative agreement with major video game publishers, paving the way for actors to return.

The Travelers' Homecoming

Zach Aguilar (Aether) broke the news via a Twitter statement, expressing his love for the character and gratitude towards HoYoverse, while confirming his eventual return. Sarah Miller-Crews (Lumine) swiftly echoed the sentiment in a reply, announcing her reprisal. Both VAs shared palpable excitement about getting back into the booth. However, Aguilar tempered expectations, clarifying that due to timing constraints, players won't hear Aether's voice in the imminent Version 5.7 patch. Their full vocal return is slated for later updates.

"Can't wait to journey through Teyvat with you all again soon. The hype train is boarding!" - Paraphrased sentiment from VA announcements.

Community Reactions: Relief and Lingering Questions

The confirmation was met with widespread positivity from the player base. Many fans found the announcement incredibly reassuring, especially given the recent recasting of Kinich's voice actor in March 2025 and swirling rumors about Paimon and Keqing potentially getting new voices in Version 5.7 – rumors that have sparked mixed reactions. Knowing the Travelers would retain their familiar voices was a major win for the community.

People Also Ask:

• Why were some Genshin voices silent? -> The SAG-AFTRA strike prevented union VAs from working on the non-union project.

• Is Paimon's voice actor changing? -> Rumors suggest a possible recast in Version 5.7, but no official confirmation exists.

• Will past unvoiced quests get dialogue added? -> It's possible but unconfirmed; fans await a developer announcement.

• When exactly will the Travelers speak again? -> Post Version 5.7; specific update unknown.

The Road Ahead: Version 5.7 and Beyond

While the return of Aguilar and Miller-Crews is celebrated, the timing creates a bittersweet moment. Version 5.7 is set to feature a highly anticipated new Archon Quest involving both Travelers and the enigmatic Dainsleif – a narrative highlight players eagerly await each year. The confirmed absence of the Travelers' voices for this significant story beat has undoubtedly left some fans feeling a pang of disappointment. The question now is whether HoYoverse might retroactively add voice lines to past quests affected by the strike now that actors are returning, though that remains firmly in the realm of player hope and speculation rather than confirmed plans. Only time, and official word, will tell.

With the main protagonists' voices secured for the future, but silent for an upcoming major chapter, is the community's 'copium' tank full enough to endure one last quiet quest, or will the lack of voices significantly impact the immersion of the Version 5.7 Archon Quest experience?