On March 14, 2025, the popular smartphone tower defense game Arknights announced the removal of voice actor Toshihiko Seki from his role as Elysium, generating widespread speculation and concerns among fans.
The announcement came via the official Arknights account on X, where the developers, Hypergryph, indicated the decision was made due to "various circumstances." Despite the official nature of the declaration, the vague reasons have left players and stakeholders seeking clarity. The company apologized for any inconvenience caused and promised to share details about the replacement of existing voice recordings at a later date.
This sudden art change follows similar developments involving Seki, who was also announced on March 12 as being removed from his role as Itha in the renowned open-world RPG Genshin Impact, also under the umbrella of Chinese developers. The coincidence of these announcements has fueled speculation over whether the reasons behind his removal from both titles are connected.
Known for his versatile voice roles, including Shikamaru Nara from NARUTO, Toshihiko Seki's recent controversies stem from his involvement in a stage reading of the manga 命がけの証言 (translated as Escapable Testimony), which draws attention to sensitive political issues concerning the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and criticizes the Chinese Communist Party. This performance generated backlash on Chinese social media, particularly on Weibo, where users have called for his dismissal from the games.
While both Genshin Impact and Arknights maintain the official line of "various circumstances" for Seki's removal, fans have raised eyebrows, frustrated by the lack of specificity surrounding his exits from these significant roles. Online sentiments reflect dissatisfaction with the transparency of these discussions, echoing the sentiments of, "What happened?" and, "I want proper explanations!" Many feel the absence of clear reasoning invites speculation and fuels rumors.
For Arknights, the character Elysium was introduced to players back in December 2020. His story arc engages players with rich thematic elements involving conflict over energy-producing ore and societal issues stemming from epidemiological discrimination. This narrative depth has been part of what has made the game so lauded among players since its start.
This incident is not without precedent. Arknights previously saw change when Platinum's voice actor, Ayahi Takagaki, was suddenly replaced by Rui Tsukishima based on vague developer requests. Fans are now recalling this moment, finding parallels within the decisions affecting Seki and prompting criticism toward the developers' approach to casting.
Concerned discussions are blossoming across platforms: gamers speculate whether game developers, particularly those with ties to China, might be responding to external pressures affecting the narrative and character representation. With challenges like these, the community questions what protocols should exist around representation, particularly when sensitive socio-political issues intersect with entertainment.
Overall, the removal of Toshihiko Seki from both Genshin Impact and Arknights showcases the complex and often precarious nature of voice acting within video games, especially under the scrutiny of fans and the mantle of corporate narratives. It remains to be seen how Hypergryph and Yostar will navigate these discussions moving forward and how the community will respond to future content and character presentations.