Wayne June, Darkest Dungeon’s Famed Narrator, Has Passed Away

The gaming community mourns the loss of Wayne June, the iconic voice behind the narrator in the beloved Darkest Dungeon series. June's passing was announced across various Darkest Dungeon social media channels and the official game website. As of now, the cause of his death has not been disclosed to the public.

The Ancestor and the Academic Lives On

Wayne June's journey with Darkest Dungeon began when the game's creative director, Chris Bourassa, and Red Hook co-founder, Tyler Sigman, reached out to him to narrate the trailer for the first game. This marked the start of what was described as an "incredible and fulfilling collaboration." Bourassa praised June's iconic baritone voice, noting its majestic quality that enhanced every narrative he touched. "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 he first discovered June through his narrations of H.P. Lovecraft audiobooks, which he listened to regularly until the founding of Red Hook. He even shared these CDs with Sigman, who was equally captivated by June's ability to bring the eerie world of Lovecraft to life. This admiration led them to the idea of having June narrate the Darkest Dungeon trailer. "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 recounted. June's voice soon became a defining element of Darkest Dungeon, carrying over into the second installment of the series.

Fans have expressed their deepest condolences, acknowledging June's significant contribution to making their Darkest Dungeon experiences more immersive and enjoyable. Many have lauded his distinctive voice, often quoting memorable lines from the game in their tributes. Some fans even shared that June's lines have become part of their everyday conversations, a testament to how his delivery resonated with them long after playing the game. As the gaming community reflects on his legacy, we honor Wayne June, whose voice will continue to echo in the hearts of players everywhere. May he rest in peace.