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Despite not being within the union system, MiHoYo was affected by the 2024-2025 SAG-AFTRA video game voice actor strike, though this would stem from tangentially unrelated actions they took during this period. For Genshin Impact, MiHoYo previously worked with the voice acting group Formosa Interactive, who were being targeted in the SAG-AFTRA strike, but later announced in January 2025 that they had formed a new partnership with SIDE Global for English voice acting in the game, thereby allowing MiHoYo to have all of their most popular games include new voice work from studios not targeted by the strike. From March to May 2025, they announced that various English voice actors for Zenless Zone Zero, Genshin Impact, and Honkai: Star Rail would be replaced, with several actors involved with the games citing the strike as the reason they withheld their work. On March 27, SAG-AFTRA tweeted a link to guidelines for a video game voice actor union agreement on their website and called on MiHoYo to sign a contract with them, a move that some pointed out would put severe limitations on how the company could work with non-union voice actors and one that MiHoYo did not respond to.
The same day, voice actor Jacob Takanashi announced that he would be serving as the new voice actor for Kinich in Genshin Impact. Takanashi had described it as "the opportunity to carry the flame from the previous flamebearer", making it seem as if Patneaude had stepped down from the role for reasons other than the strike (it should be noted that Patneaude joined the strike in solidarity, and neither of the actors are believed to be union members). This caused many strike supporters to accuse Takanashi of being a scab, with other Genshin Impact voice actors criticizing him including Corina Boettger (Paimon), Kayli Mills (Keqing), and Valeria Rodriguez (Sucrose). Likewise, the playerbase was heavily divided on the situation. While many agreed with the voice actors' sentiment on the situation, others defended Takanashi from the backlash due to him not being a union actor, and criticized the voice actors for what they perceived to be a lack of professionalism.
The same day, voice actor Jacob Takanashi announced that he would be serving as the new voice actor for Kinich in Genshin Impact. Takanashi had described it as "the opportunity to carry the flame from the previous flamebearer", making it seem as if Patneaude had stepped down from the role for reasons other than the strike (it should be noted that Patneaude joined the strike in solidarity, and neither of the actors are believed to be union members). This caused many strike supporters to accuse Takanashi of being a scab, with other Genshin Impact voice actors criticizing him including Corina Boettger (Paimon), Kayli Mills (Keqing), and Valeria Rodriguez (Sucrose). Likewise, the playerbase was heavily divided on the situation. While many agreed with the voice actors' sentiment on the situation, others defended Takanashi from the backlash due to him not being a union actor, and criticized the voice actors for what they perceived to be a lack of professionalism.
Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.7 details (Replaced several voice actors including Katie Cofield (Koleda Belobog), Chelsea Kwoka (Grace Howard), and Crystal Lee (Alexandrina Sebastiane). As of this version, the only Agent in the game still unvoiced is Jane Doe, who is voiced by Kelsey Jaffer.):
https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/news-zenless-zone-zero-zzz-replaces-multiple-voice-actors-version-1-7
Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6 details:
https://www.hoyolab.com/article/37573923
Genshin Impact Version 5.5 details:
https://www.hoyolab.com/article/37812368
Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.3 details:
https://www.hoyolab.com/article/38894296
Formosa Projects list:
https://formosagroup.com/interactive-projects/
SIDE Global tweet:
https://x.com/SideGlobal/status/1879555930318311719
Statements from voice actors:
https://x.com/emerichase/status/1899670401812451825
https://x.com/NThurkettle/status/1899671603765776498
https://x.com/JohnPatneaude/status/1904931243944534424
SAG-AFTRA proposal tweet and community notes:
https://archive.ph/vc8Ia
https://x.com/sagaftra/status/1905295740123136480
PC Gamer article:
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/diabolical-genshin-impacts-english-cast-gives-new-vo-the-cold-shoulder-after-he-frames-replacing-a-striking-actor-as-an-opportunity-to-carry-the-flame/
Newsweek article:
https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/video-games/honkai-star-rail-version-33-patch-notes-bring-new-voice-actors-main-characters-2075170
https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/news-zenless-zone-zero-zzz-replaces-multiple-voice-actors-version-1-7
Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.6 details:
https://www.hoyolab.com/article/37573923
Genshin Impact Version 5.5 details:
https://www.hoyolab.com/article/37812368
Honkai: Star Rail Version 3.3 details:
https://www.hoyolab.com/article/38894296
Formosa Projects list:
https://formosagroup.com/interactive-projects/
SIDE Global tweet:
https://x.com/SideGlobal/status/1879555930318311719
Statements from voice actors:
https://x.com/emerichase/status/1899670401812451825
https://x.com/NThurkettle/status/1899671603765776498
https://x.com/JohnPatneaude/status/1904931243944534424
SAG-AFTRA proposal tweet and community notes:
https://archive.ph/vc8Ia
https://x.com/sagaftra/status/1905295740123136480
PC Gamer article:
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/diabolical-genshin-impacts-english-cast-gives-new-vo-the-cold-shoulder-after-he-frames-replacing-a-striking-actor-as-an-opportunity-to-carry-the-flame/
Newsweek article:
https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/video-games/honkai-star-rail-version-33-patch-notes-bring-new-voice-actors-main-characters-2075170
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According to producer Zhenyu Li, there was much discussion among the team when creating the game's characters, often starting with the question, "What have players not seen before?" For example, maid characters had been done several times by that point, prompting the devs to try to brainstorm more elements that could keep them interesting. Their solution for the maid designs was to add tropes commonly seen in horror movies to create a new aesthetic, thus resulting in the designs for the Victoria Housekeeping Co. faction.
Developer interview:
https://techraptor.net/gaming/features/zenless-zone-zero-interview-hoyoverse
Victoria Housekeeping Co. introduction cutscene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGSS7FpICco
https://techraptor.net/gaming/features/zenless-zone-zero-interview-hoyoverse
Victoria Housekeeping Co. introduction cutscene:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGSS7FpICco
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To promote the release of the game, HoYoverse collaborated with the YouTube channel Lofi Girl to release a Zenless Zone Zero-themed video featuring the character Belle on the HoYoFair YouTube channel. Similar to Lofi Girl's content, the video features lo-fi remixes of select songs from the game's soundtrack.
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Jane Doe's name has two different references in it. The first and most obvious one is a reference to the term "Jane Doe", a placeholder name used in cases where a female individual's real name is either unknown or intentionally concealed (ironically, her Spoiler:New Eridu Public Security (NEPS) Consultant Card implies that her name really is Jane Doe rather than an alias). The second reference is found in her last name "Doe", which is what female fancy mice (domesticated breeds of common house mice) are often referred to as. Both of these references are fitting for Jane's character as she is a mouse Thiren with prominent ears and a tail, and because Spoiler:she works for NEPS as a consultant, specializing in criminal psychology and infiltrating dangerous groups.
"Jane Doe" definition:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jane%20Doe
Article about male and female fancy mice:
https://crittery.co.uk/species-list/fancy-mice/fancy-mice-boys-or-girls
Zenless Zone Zero - "Undercover R&B" playthrough:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo_0cIKXpV4#t=1060s
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jane%20Doe
Article about male and female fancy mice:
https://crittery.co.uk/species-list/fancy-mice/fancy-mice-boys-or-girls
Zenless Zone Zero - "Undercover R&B" playthrough:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo_0cIKXpV4#t=1060s
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Bilibili blog post (Note: source is in Chinese):
https://www.bilibili.com/opus/931089295663431683?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0
Pre-release livestream showing concept art for the Virtual Idols:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uACgiN-216s#t=495s
April 7, 2025 developer video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj3jXCO5zFU#t=183s
https://www.bilibili.com/opus/931089295663431683?spm_id_from=333.999.0.0
Pre-release livestream showing concept art for the Virtual Idols:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uACgiN-216s#t=495s
April 7, 2025 developer video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj3jXCO5zFU#t=183s
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To promote the release of Zenless Zone Zero, publisher HoYoverse collaborated with several graffiti artists to create graffiti based on the game across nineteen different cities in Indonesia.
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