Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Edition Adds 4 New Voice Actors at Launch

Q: Why did Nintendo secretly recast a fan-favorite character in the new Switch 2 edition of Xenoblade Chronicles 2?

Nintendo appears to have recast Zeke in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition because the new release adds fresh voice lines, and Daniel Barker likely was not used for those new recordings. There is no public indication that Nintendo replaced his original performance in the base game. What changed is limited. The Switch 2 edition includes extra voiced content tied to new material, especially Momo’s quest, and Nintendo has said the original Nintendo Switch audio remains intact. That means Barker’s original Zeke performance is still in the core game; Feliks Mathur is credited for newly added lines in the updated edition. Unlike Dromarch’s recasting, which has a clear explanation following the death of original actor William Roberts, Zeke’s change has not been formally explained by Nintendo or Monolith Soft. Reporting around the release suggests it may have been something practical, such as scheduling or availability, rather than a creative overhaul. So the “secret” recast was not a full replacement of a fan-favorite character across Xenoblade Chronicles 2. It was a limited recasting for added Switch 2 content, while the original performance remains available in the base experience. That distinction is important: Nintendo updated parts of the game for new content, but did not erase the original version players know.

3 articles · Updated · Nintendo Everything · Jul 31

Four actors join Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’s launch build: Feliks Mathur as Zeke, Sam Douglas as Dromarch, Rich Keeble as battle narrator, and Sarah Pitard as Momo.
The recasting applies to new voice lines in the Switch 2 Edition rather than the original game, with Momo’s added quest a key reason new recording was needed.
Dromarch’s change follows William Roberts’ death last year, while Zeke’s switch from Daniel Barker was described as unexpected and left unexplained.
Nintendo said the original Nintendo Switch release remains unchanged, with its existing cast still heard in the base Xenoblade Chronicles 2 experience.