Hayter: To hear another Snake voice 'makes me a little ill'
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Longtime Metal Gear Solid voice actor claims Konami never approached him for new game or provided reason why he was skipped over.
The idea that someone other than longtime Snake voice actor David Hayter will play the role in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain does not sit well with the actor. In an extended tweet, Hayter claimed that not only did Konami never approach him for the role, but the publisher never explained why it was moving in a different direction.
Recapping the events, Hayter said in December he came home to Los Angeles after being away in Toronto shooting a movie and heard that recording sessions for Metal Gear Solid V were being put together. He said he hadn't heard from Konami, so he contacted the production team to find out if he would be needed or not.
"We got together for lunch, and he told me that they 'wouldn’t be needing me' on this game," Hayter said. "No reason, or explanation was given beyond that. And that was it."
Hayter said after this meeting, he was "bummed" about not getting to reprise the role he had come to enjoy since he began contributing to the series in 1998. He explained that he has spent a "huge amount of time and effort" into making sure Snake came across as a compelling character and that he will have a tough time hearing someone else's voice as Snake.
"If it were my choice, I would do this role forever," Hayter said. "To hear anyone else’s voice coming from Snake’s battered throat, makes me a little ill, to be honest."
At the same time, Hayter said he understands that at the end of the day, Konami and Hideo Kojima ultimately get to call the shots. "And that's fair," he said. "And I'll get by. I am not lacking for employment on any level."
"But I didn’t want anybody to think that I was intentionally abandoning them. And know that I will miss this job, and this character, very much."
Kojima explained last week that the decision to go with someone other than Hayter in Metal Gear Solid V was about reflecting the design of the game.
"It's a new type of Metal Gear game and we wanted to have this reflected in the voice actor as well," Kojima said at the time.
Neither Kojima nor Konami have revealed who will play Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is due out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, while Ground Zeroes will be a prologue and an entirely separate game.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
120 comments
What confuses me is that Snake's longtime Japanese voice actor will be reprising his role, which contradicts Kojima's "It's a new type of Metal Gear game and we wanted to have this reflected in the voice actor as well," statement. Maybe he feels the English audience is more accepting of change than the Japanese.
Sounds so fishy;
There is no reason on Earth not to let Hayter play the role..
He played the role for a dozen years and not a single explanation on why he was abandoned for this title? That's impossible..
Also, Hayter went emo earlier than expected, he didn't play Big Boss in MGS4 so he should expect he either ain't playing Big Boss for further titles or Kojima got another role for him. He also knows this is bad for the title -that he loves a lot- sales..
Finally, the tweet is signed by David Hayter, April 1, 2013..
2 Like This is clearly just an industry push to eventually have Nolan North voice literally everything - including the female characters.
2 Like I can't imagine not having his voice... It seems so wrong... Anytime I think of MGS I think of his awesome VA... Then I think of solid snake saying random things or ordering an espresso at a local coffees shop...
I look forward to the next game, but it won't be the same.
1 Like This is either a very elaborate rouse to throw people off the trail and truly surprise fans (a la MGS 2) or we will not be playing as Snake in this game, therefore a new voice actor is needed to reflect the difference between BB/Snake and the new character. I think is the latter.
@demayor Could be like Splinter Cell where they replace Ironside completely with some nobody.
Well if that's the move they want to go in and it's not like Hayter didn't have his turn. They just better make a good choice or this decision will haunt them. I can see the posts already, "He doesn't sound like Snake!".
They could have at least given him an explanation. How can you do the legendary voice actor behind Snake's voice like this?
Hayter doesn't need to voice Solid Snake, because he's probably not going to be there. I'm almost convinced that we're dealing with Big Boss.
@Fandango_Letho So? David Hayter voiced Big Boss in MGS3, Portable Ops and Peace Walker. Ground Zeroes takes place immediately after Peace Walker
1 Like I suppose they could be using this as a segway to explain WHY Big Boss had a different voice in 4, but not 3, PO or PW
@foxrock66 That's what I was thinking too. If they're really going in a different direction, it could be to differentiate between the older Big Boss and Solid Snake/ Younger Big Boss.
Remember, "Old Solid Snake" was still technically relatively young, he just looked old because of his messed up genetics.
@foxrock66 I can maybe understand having a different VA in Phantom Pain. But it makes zero sense to have a different VA in Ground Zeroes, since Kojima confirmed it takes place immediately after Peace Walker
To be fair, Hayter hasn't actually said he won't voice GZ, which Konami is claiming to be an entirely separate entity
@Darth_Kane @unreal101 @foxrock66 Ah, understood. It's still possible Hayter is only referring to TPP though. At least one can hope; however doubtful
@foxrock66 @unreal101 @Darth_Kane Thanks for clarification.
Honestly, this whole project secrecy thing is starting to get annoying.
It's still doubtful to me that GZ can be a separate entity, though; the entire plot of everything preceding Snake's come can be found on the MG Wiki.
@unreal101 @foxrock66 @Darth_Kane That's what we thought, but they later corrected themselves. Both are part of MGS5, they'll just be released as separate games. Kind of like an episodic title (think The Walking Dead on a larger scale)
@unreal101 @foxrock66 @Darth_Kane
Kojima said, yes. Konami then said he misspoke. One of them is wrong someplace, or they're just trying to be obtuse
@foxrock66 @Darth_Kane I thought that Kojima revealed that GZ and Phantom pain are the same game at their recent press release... am I wrong?
@foxrock66 @Darth_Kane No, Kojima said Ground Zeroes and Phantom Pain make up MGS5. They'll just be released as separate games
This comment has been deleted
@666Rich666 @DARKKNIGHTPRABZ yh exactly
konami are dodgy , and beleive me ive been buying their products since 97. When things get ugly, Konami get ugly. And the fans usually suffer.
2 Like Don't worry Dave, I'm right there with you. I can't imagine anyone else doing that voice.
is sad, but this is not going to stop me from buying the game, i believe that kojima had a good reason to change or is just another big ruse by kojima
So lame. This is the only thing about MGS V that i've heard that i don't like.
David Hayter is and will always be Snake. I just don't get why someone like Kojima would make a decision that he knows would upset so many fans.
I admit it will be weird to hear another voice from Snake, but i have faith in Kojima san.
1 Like This does not sit well with me... As someone who has played every Metal Gear Solid game, I could not imagine anyone other than David Hayter doing the voice of Snake... Hopefully this is an April Fools joke.
@666Rich666 Unfortunately, it isn't. Gamespot reported last week that he wouldn't be reprising the role.
@Riddick123 @666Rich666 It's still possible they're screwing with us (like with the Phantom Pain trailer)
2 Like The fact that this is posted on April 1st reinforces the faint hope that Kojima and Hayter are screwing with us in some way.
HOWEVER. I'd actually be somewhat ok with a new voice actor for Big Boss - the age/coma/injury angle is a good enough explanation for me, especially considering that Big Boss already sounded different in MGS4. I just hope the new voice guy never has to do Solid Snake or young Big Boss.
Didn't they say he wasn't returning several days ago? if this is an April fools joke, then they sure are planning it carefully.
@MAD_AI @unreal101 Yes, they did. A possibility is that that they were trying to be subtle before, and this post comes on April 1st to drive the point home.
Anyway, I'm guessing here. I wouldn't really be surprised if they really DID cut Hayter out completely.
Don`t worry David your Voice is legendary and hey..what they said you wouldn`t be needed on this game..This game....so i hop you got my point ; )
I hate april fools day, you don't know what news are for real and what news are a joke -_- (I know he won't be Snake's voice in the next game, read it a few days ago)
1 Like We not playing as Solid Snake so its no problem. I know hayter did the voice of Big Boss in MGS3, but there he was younger. In ground zeroes Big Boss is older so voice changes... plus Big Boss has a different voice in MGS4 as well....
2 Like @KillzoneSnake David Hayter also voiced Big Boss in Portable Ops and Peace Walker. Ground Zeroes takes place immediately after Peace Walker
@KillzoneSnake yeah, Richard Doyle did Big Boss voice on MGS4, and did well enough. I would still prefer Hayter though.
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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
- Publisher(s): Konami
- Developer(s): Kojima Productions
- Genre: Action
- Release:
- ESRB: RP
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