Ethan Crossfield 
S-Game has confirmed that Roger Craig Smith is now the English voice of Soul, the protagonist of Phantom Blade Zero. The switch matters because it arrived late in the game’s development cycle: players starting the game at launch will hear Smith throughout Soul’s role, while earlier trailers and gameplay footage still feature former actor Jay Maksenuk.
What happened with Soul’s English voice
Roger Craig Smith has replaced Jay Maksenuk as Soul’s English voice actor in Phantom Blade Zero. Smith is widely recognized for roles including Sonic the Hedgehog, Ezio Auditore, Chris Redfield, and Batman. His performance as Soul can be heard in the game’s official launch trailer.
Maksenuk’s version of the character has not vanished entirely from the public record. Various previously released trailers and gameplay videos continue to use his performance, meaning fans revisiting older footage may notice a clear difference in Soul’s delivery.
Why the late change matters
The casting update appears to have been implemented very close to release. During a review period, Soul was reportedly still voiced by Maksenuk for much of the playthrough. About a week into that period, S-Game informed the reviewer that Soul’s voice had been updated, though the studio did not initially identify the replacement or explain the reason for the change.
A lead-character voice change this late can create an unusual split between marketing materials and the finished game. It also puts added attention on consistency: Soul is central to Phantom Blade Zero’s action-driven story, so the English performance will shape how many players connect with the protagonist from the opening hours onward.
What to watch next
S-Game has not publicly provided a reason for the recast in the supplied information. Questions remain over whether older promotional videos will be updated, whether Maksenuk’s performance will remain accessible in any form, and whether the studio will offer further context after launch.
For now, the practical takeaway is straightforward: the launch version gives Soul Smith’s voice performance. Players comparing footage should keep in mind that older clips may not represent the final English-language presentation.
What players should know
- The launch version of Phantom Blade Zero uses Roger Craig Smith as Soul’s English voice.
- Older trailers and gameplay footage may still feature Jay Maksenuk’s earlier performance.
- Smith’s performance is present in the official launch trailer.
- S-Game had not explained the reason for the casting change in the available report.
Expert View
Smith is a recognizable addition, but the bigger story is timing. Recasting a protagonist near launch invites immediate comparison with older footage, so S-Game’s final English presentation will be judged not only on star power, but on whether Soul feels fully integrated into the game’s completed narrative.
