„They just didn't want me to do it.” Baldur's Gate 3 actor, Neil Newbon, fights for fame and respect for people in his profession
Neil Newbon, Troy Baker, Jennifer Hale and other actors known from video games join the fight for respect and recognition for their profession.
The voice actor for Astarion from Baldur’s Gate 3 might not have appeared in many games if he hadn't gotten rid of his agents, who immediately rejected "slum" recording sessions and motion capture gigs.
Neil Newbon gained considerable fame after his performance in the new RPG from Larian Studios as a vampire, which was loved by many fans of this game. However, Newborn didn't start his adventure with games from BG 3 - and now, after 25 years of acting (including 12 years in video games), he wants to fight for fame and respect for actors appearing in video games.
Respect and fame for game actors
Newbon is by no means taking on this challenge alone. On December 11, 2024, he and 17 other actors and developers known from video games founded the Pixel Pack group. Its members include such celebrities as Troy Baker (Death Stranding), Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect), Yuri Lowenthal (Prince of Persia: Sands of Time) and his colleagues from the set of Baldur’s Gate 3, including Maggie Robertson (also known for her role as Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village).
In a long article in Entertainment Weekly magazine, group members shared their views, which boil down to one thing: that people appearing in video games are artists and actors whose work should be recognized and respected (via Newbon on X / Games Radar).
Looking ahead, my vision is to establish the Pixel Pack as an annual initiative, one that not only celebrates established talent, but also uplifts emerging actors in the gaming industry. By fostering inspiration, awareness, and advocacy, we can strengthen our collective voice and ensure that performance in games continues to be recognized, respected, and protected - explained his plan Neil Newbon, who will appear, among others, at the GDC 2025 conference (March 17-22).
Newbon and the other initiative members shared their insights on how their approach to portraying game characters has evolved. This was facilitated not only by the increasing significance of video games (which now generate more revenue than Hollywood), awards for game actors (given by BAFTA since 2004), and titles such as The Last of Us (whose release Erika Ishii likened to "witnessing the birth of cinema"), but also by the coronavirus pandemic (which has long hindered work on film sets).
As a result, in the shortest possible terms, performances in video games are now treated (almost) as seriously as film or television roles, and actors are valued for their professionalism. What did it look like before? Well...
Motion-capture artists and actor slums
Members of Pixel Pack, who spoke with Entertainment Weekly's editorial team, shared their experiences - including those from several years ago, when appearing in video games was considered a cause for shame in the acting community.
As Newbon recalls, when he started his adventure with games by performing in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, he would sometimes hear conversations implying that "motion-capture artists" (as such a role was officially called) weren't considered "real actors."
I've had agents turn down three-week mo-cap gigs that I didn't even know about. They just didn't want me to do it, which is not cool. But this was a long time ago. I got rid of those agents.
Jennifer Hale supports him (saying voice actors were often treated like "utensils on the table") along with Yuri Lowenthal (who stated that "real actors" viewed working in VA as a sort of "slum" and a source of embarrassment - something an artist turns to out of desperation when in need of money). Other EW interviewees shared similar stories: "voice acting" in games was meant to be the realm of those connected to gaming, viewed with a sense of indulgence.
Newbon's comment about agents who, without his knowledge, rejected all proposals for participation in motion capture sessions is important. The actor wasn't at all thrilled about this and ultimately got rid of these agents.
Cold acting game
Hale mentions that such a contemptuous approach could stem from a misunderstanding of how much skill is required to perform well in a video game. According to him, even now a large portion of VA sessions relies on cold reading, with most dialogue lines only being addressed during the recording, which involves at most a few tries. Therefore, as Hale claims, "voice actors must be very talented when it comes to games."
The fact that, until recently, few video games were promoted using performances by actors known from other projects also speaks volumes. This is now changing, as is the strictly "business" and "commercial" approach to such work - but it is still too early to talk about widespread respect. It's enough to recall the words of the president of Amazon Games, who claimed that "there really is no acting in video games."
Hence, the Newbon's initiative and other actors aim not only to promote their work but also to support people starting their journey in game acting. This aligns in part with the objectives of the SAG-AFTRA union, which has been combating the misuse of AI for "stealing" actors' voices since last year. Negotiations with developers have been ongoing for a long time, but even the latest conditions were deemed insufficient by SAG-AFTRA (via Hollywood Reporter).
We invite you to read the full Entertainment Weekly article, where you can learn more about Newbon's plans, changes regarding game performances based on actors' experiences, and the approach to trolls and, "thirsty" fans.
- Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 gets another fix. Second patch to last major update of the best-selling RPG is now available
- Larian previewed 8 out of 12 new character subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3. Patch 8 release is getting close
- The Baldur's Gate 3-inspired fan-made mod to Stardew Valley is now out. Even Swen Vincke is impressed with it
