Wayne June, Narrator of Darkest Dungeon, Dies

Darkest Dungeon's Beloved Narrator Wayne June Has Passed Away

The Ancestor and The Academic Lives On

The gaming community mourns the loss of Wayne June, the iconic narrator of the Darkest Dungeon series, who has tragically passed away. The announcement of June’s death was shared across various Darkest Dungeon social media channels and the official website. As of now, the cause of his death has not been disclosed to the public.

The news highlighted the profound impact June had on the game, starting with a request from Darkest Dungeon's creative director Chris Bourassa and Red Hook co-founder Tyler Sigman to narrate the first title's trailer. This collaboration blossomed into something "incredible and fulfilling." Bourassa praised June’s distinctive baritone voice, describing it as magnificent and capable of elevating any 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.

Bourassa shared with PC Gamer that his introduction to June came through his captivating readings of H.P. Lovecraft audiobooks, which he frequently listened to before founding Red Hook. He even shared these CDs with Sigman, who was equally captivated by June’s voice that vividly brought the stories to life. This admiration led to the pivotal decision to have June narrate Darkest Dungeon.

"We should get somebody like Wayne June to narrate the trailer," they initially thought. "Then we realized—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 the Darkest Dungeon experience, continuing into the second installment.

Fans have expressed their deepest condolences, thanking June for enriching their Darkest Dungeon experiences. Many lauded his unforgettable voice, often quoting his memorable lines from the game. Some fans even shared anecdotes of themselves quoting June’s lines in everyday life, a testament to how deeply his narration resonated with them. May Wayne June rest in peace, and may his voice continue to live on in the hearts of all who cherished his work.