After a long hiatus between Mega Man games, Mega Man: Dual Override is slated to bring back Capcom’s iconic hero. However, Ben Diskin–the actor who voiced the title character in Mega Man 11–has revealed that he won’t be returning for Dual Override because Capcom is refusing to abide by SAG-AFTRA regulations in the next game.
“With a broken Blue Bomber heart, I am no longer the voice of Mega Man,” Diskin wrote in a post on Bluesky. “I was asked to return for Mega Man: Dual Override, but only on the condition I work without the protections of a union contract.”
According to Diskin, one of the reasons he refused the offer was a potential lack of AI protections, which Capcom insists are already part of the contract. But without SAG-AFTRA’s backing, Diskin may not have been able to enforce that contract provision.
“I was told there are ‘full AI protections in place that guarantee in writing that [my] voice will never be used for AI development,'” added Diskin. “But [I] was also told ‘with certainty, from [Capcom], that the project will not go union.'”
As reported by Rockman Corner and PC Gamer, SAG-AFTRA has issued a Do Not Work order against Mega Man: Dual Override because of the company’s refusal to “initiate the signatory process.” All SAG-AFTRA members have been warned not to work on Dual Override or else they may face disciplinary action from the union.
In 2024, SAG-AFTRA declared a video game voice actors strike against the industry’s major publishers over several issues, including AI protections for performers. The strike lasted 11 months until a new deal was struck last summer. However, the terms of that deal only apply to games that use union talent and contracts. Non-union titles like Dual Override aren’t subject to the same rules, but SAG-AFTRA’s DNW order will likely mean that game won’t attract A-list voice actors who are already working in the industry.
GameSpot has reached out to Capcom for comment. But unless the publisher changes its stance, Mega Man: Dual Override will need an all-new non-union cast before it debuts in 2027 on Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5. and PC.