Kojima confirms David Hayter not in MGS5. Fans left stunned

In a day full of great news for Metal Gear Fans, we hate to be reporting this bit of news.

[porkChop]

I'm not buying it. I'm sorry Kojima, but Hayter's voice and personality are the heart of MGS. He IS Snake. The new guy they got doesn't even sound ANYTHING like Snake AT ALL. I was super hyped for this game, but that one stupid decision took all my hype away.

I'm really just not interested anymore. What makes it even worse is that according to David Hayter, they never even asked him or talked to him about the game at all. Never asked him to reprise his role or anything.

[Root]

I was a tad annoyed but Naked Snake i s getting older now there has to be a point where he sounds different to Solid Snake

I guess if Kojima ever does MGS6 with Solid Snake SOMEHOW, then David will be back. I mean they cant keep doing prequels

[PopRocks359]

I was going to say. If this is only because it's Big Boss, I can live with Hayter not voicing him. But Solid Snake and young Big Boss is another story...

[Omar91]

But snakes voice is already rough and raspy to begin with so how does he go from getting older and having a more smooth "clean" voice? it just doesnt make sense. David Hayter is snake. whether it be naked or solid snake.

[porkChop]

I see what you're saying, but this is 9 years after Ground Zeroes, which takes place shortly after Peace Walker. So Naked Snake is in his 40's. I don't see his voice changing THAT much at that stage in his life. Later on, sure. But it just seems off, especially since the new voice actually sounds younger than Hayter. It doesn't make sense.

I could maybe understand if they're leading up to a parallel MG 1 & 2 story where we play as Big Boss, because Solid Snake would be in the game as well and you couldn't have Hayter voicing both characters. But Hayter has said that unfortunately he will not be returning to the series. So that would leave us with a completely different Solid Snake voice as well.

[Root]

"But Hayter has said that unfortunately he will not be returning to the series. So that would leave us with a completely different Solid Snake voice as well."

So he isn't returning at all

Balls.....I really wanted to see Solid Snake again in the future.

I know I know, let him live out the rest of his days in peace like what MGS4 implied but a character like him can't just go away. I feel it was a horrible decision to make him old. Lets not forget we thought he would "live his life" at the end of the first Metal Gear Solid game with Meryl

Would be a great idea if for MGS6 they (new threat) kidnap Snake and experiment on him for years, curing his ageing problem so he's young again to make him look like his actual age but at the same time end up making it so they have ways to clone him so they can create powerful Genome Soldiers types for a new private army.

Anyway I can see where your coming from, I hadn't heard the new guys that much but yeah now that I'm aware he does sound younger.

Kojima better have a good reason for this....I hope people don't let it go because it's Kojima.

[thechosenone]

yeah it does kind of suck but kiefer sutherland is a damn good replacement so I'm ok with the change.

[Shuyin]

@ Root

Snake's age can't be 'cured'. It's no disease. It's the way his genes were manipulated..

Don't get your hopes up for another sequel. Kojima said it himself. Old Snake's storyline is DONE. And with the Patriots gone, there is no more enemy left to be fought aswell.

[Root]

Course it can be cured....it's their story, they make make up a way for him to be cured. It's not real life you know....in a game you could have the cure for cancer, we don't have it but it doesn't mean you can't write it in. It is their story. What about if they find a way to change his genes or reverse them.

I remember when Halo 3 was the last Master Chief game...finish the fight and look who came back for Halo 4

Same goes with the enemy....your saying there's no more enemies left to fight....so make up a new threat, it's a big world out there. Peace doesn't last forever

As I've said they can't keep relying on prequels for the main MGS games.

[infamousinfolite]

@Root
You did this sort of thinking with Infamous. Like you said 'It's THEIR game THEIR story not YOURS so if THEY want to end Solid Snake's story at MGS4 THEY can.

[NBT91]

... They CAN keep doing prequels. There is tons of room for potential backstory.
But yeah Hayter will reprise the role in the future I'm sure.

Either this is the biggest troll in gaming (I.E Phantom Pain takes place nine years after Ground Zeroes, therefore Hayter will only voice him during GZ and not The Phantom Pain where he wakes up from his coma with a changed voice... or there is a legit reason, either way I'm pretty neutral on the matter.

[WildArmed]

I knew something was off when i heard big boss talk.

I was like... I hope this isn't him talking, coz it doesn't sound like him at all (or rather my perception of how he should sound i guess?)

[ZodTheRipper]

David Hayter just voiced Solid Snake. Big Boss is NOT Solid Snake - How ignorant does one have to be to say "I'm not buying it because David Hayter is missing"? Stupid drama queens.

[Kurylo3d]

Maybe its because david hayter also voiced big boss in every game other then mgs4 lol.

[WildArmed]

@zod

MGS3, Peace Walker, etc etc were all done by Hayter too.

Thou I dont believe in shunning a game ebcause they didn't pick a particular voice actor. Criticizing? Yes.

[fr0sty]

Hayter's voice sucked. Yeah, I said it. The only reason people like it is because it is associated with an icon. The voice acting is pretty bad really.

[Trenta27]

That's actually my thoughts on it, too. Kojima obviously had a reason for not choosing him. Considering he is one of the greatest game designers ever, I will agree with his choice.

[vegnadragon]

Don't be a HAYTER!

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

COULD NOT AGREE MORE. ive always felt that hayters voice was too cliche for MGS. always so forcefully grumpy and seemed extremely stereotypical of that "reluctant anti-hero" role. Within the MGS universe, Raidens voice actor is far better suited for his role than hayter is for snake. when i hear Raiden speak, i think "this is Raiden talking". but when i hear snake speak i think "this character has a terrible voice actor".
Though Snakes voice isnt AS bad, it reminds me a lot of doms voice in gears. Instead of having a character with an identifiable sound, you have yet another ultra burly, deep scratchy voiced anti-hero.

If MGS wants its voice acting to stick around with heavy hitters like the uncharted series and sleeping dogs (va is supposedly phenomenal, they need to ditch the 80's style voice acting..

[grailly]

@dubstep
I agree, but I think it makes snakes voice quite funny, which I enjoy

[fr0sty]

Good to see I wasn't completely trashed for that opinion... lol. Goes to show MGS fans have some maturity to them and are able to handle a dissenting opinion or two once in a while.

I love MGS, but just never was that impressed by ol' Hayter. His voice worked, but as said above it just seemed forced and cliche. It did work within the comical context that MGS always has kept, but perhaps Kojima wants to take MGS in a more serious direction this time. Who knows. I know if Snake ever makes it to the big screen, he'll need a new voice. Not everyone will get the humor in it, and many will just think it's bad acting.

[Number-Nine]

you try to cover up your statement as an opinion, when it's in fact pure ignorance.

[jrbeerman11]

ill have to agree that hayter was not the best voice actor.

Felt very forced to me. sorry unpopular opinion but take off the nostalgia glasses and give him a good listen sometime.

[guitarded77]

I can understand being disappointing, but I think you're overreacting. Of course it's your right to do so, but do you really think this will ruin the game?

[infamousinfolite]

It won't. It's still Kojima's game anyway so we will thoroughly enjoy the gameplay and cutscenes of it all.

[GamersRulz]

Kojima wants to differentiate Big Boss voice from Solid Snake voice in case of possible future encounter...Very logical and should have been done years ago.

[Ducky]

... because Snake and Big Boss haven't encountered each other yet?

[greatcrusader44]

@ducky

And during that encounter, were they both voiced by Hayter? No

[Ducky]

^ That's the thing. They had different voice actors during the encounter and it didn't cause any problems. It was believable.

Now, BigBoss's voice changing shortly after PeaceWalker? Not that believable.
It's unlikely he'll even encounter Snake until he hits 60.

If the japanese version is still using the same old voice actor, then it pretty much debunks this theory.

[greatcrusader44]

Totally forgot the Japanese Snake is reprising his role as Big Boss. My theory is that Kojima is making a MGS in a different style, a more serious game, and in truth, despite me loving Hayters voice, it really is cheesy as hell.

Not happy about the change, but there was a reason for it, Kojima just wasn't sitting in his house thinking "You know what? F#ck Hayter, I'm recasting Big Boss."

[vork77]

Richard Doyle voice big boss in MGS4

[TemplarDante]

?

[grailly]

!

[showtimefolks]

This is just Kojima trolling us again

I love MGS and Kojima but this man trolls a lot lol.

I wouldn't be surprised if David hasn't already finished the voice work lol

[arronax-1]

keep kidding yourself.

[texaswolfsrain]

April Fools Day

[NatureOfLogic]

@ porkChop I agree, I've already decided to skip this one. All my hype and high hopes for this game went away because of this news. I never would've guessed that I'll be skipping this due to stupid VA decisions. I'm very upset at this news. When I heard that voice at the end, I was like "wtf is that". That voice was weak.

[Ashunderfire86]

Shitttttt they did the same thing with Splinter Cell with a new actor also? What happen to the originals man. No Ironside and now no Hayter.

[delboy]

It's Big Boss not Snake.
But Snake is a clone of Big Boss, so they should have same voice?
And don't come me with the different in age argument, they are both grown up.

Yes, the voice is a big deal, for me, and all MGS fans.
So I'm a bit disappointed with Kojima and MGS5.

[MeatAbstract]

Liquid was also a clone and was British. Solidus was also clone and he sounded different.

[delboy]

You are right about that.
Ah, f... you Kojima with your mind f... games lol

[Shadowlurker]

As I said on another page: People seem to be forgetting that the Ground Zeroes part of the game is only weeks after PW.. AND that the original Japanese VA is still voicing him during that part, So it's possible Hayter is covering/lying and he's voicing BB during the GS part and Richard Doyle (Or whomever is voicing him in the trailer) is voicing him in the 9 years later post-coma part of the game.. However it didn't really sound like Doyle either....

And there isn't any solid (lols) reason for the dramastic change given that he actually sounds younger not older.. So either that's not BB in the "post-coma" part (See the biginning part where we are actually seeing Big Boss going into the coma from someone elses eyes and not from his or Millers.) Meaning that the person waking up from the coma is actually the other guy.

[arronax-1]

As far as i'm concerned, that is what you fanboys get for forcing someone like him to continue this franchise.

[Good_Guy_Jamal]

Too bad. You won't be missed though.

[Tito08]

Then it's totally ridiculous to judge a purchase decision based on a voice actor, as if some of the Batman animated movies are gonna suck because it doesn't have Kevin Conroy voicing Batman. David was voiced in 6 MGS games, & the games contained a lot of dialogue, it wasn't your average videogame voice over, plus he's also involved in movie projects, just like when he produced the first X-Men movie. Maybe Kojima have another project for him, who knows. Also in MGS3 Big Boss was in his 30's in 1964, he was already in his 40's by the events of Peace Walker in 1974, IDK too well about Peace Walker, so I don't know how long after PW is the Ground Zeroes events, but now we now Phantom Pain is 9 years later which already points out the 80's, so Big Boss is well around his 50's not 40's, & the original Metal Gear took place in 1995, so it's getting a bit closer to the original game.

[porkChop]

No. Big Boss was born in 1935. He was 29 in Snake Eater. Both Peace Walker and Ground Zeroes take place in 1974 when he's 39. The Phantom Pain takes place 9 years later in 1983, which makes him 48.

[Tito08]

Well ok, I'm not too good about people's ages anyways. But you must agree with everything else I said. Can't judge a developer nor a game based on voice acting. & maybe Kojima has plans for Hayter, but not at the moment that the story in the series is getting more evolving, we never know.

[josephayal]

We must go through with the boycott

[ziggurcat]

@ porkchop

it's big boss in MGS5, not snake.

[gintoki777]

Whether voice matters on not to you is your opinion. However, its more about the personality and actions of a character which makes them likable. Its not like he has a high pitched little kid voice (picture that). I'm sure it will be the same old big boss and the game will be badass. So relax

[DeadManMcCarthy]

I like David Hayter but lets be honest, he doesn't do a good Big Boss voice or Old Snake voice. He's much better at playing the younger Snakes.

Having a new VA is the right decision.

[shadowst17]

You sir have a stick up your ass, please remove it or else it may cause serious damage to your organs and serious brain damage from the blockage of blood getting to the brain causing brain damage which is clearly seen in your post.

[ape007]

:(

[Batzi]

Yes..not gonna happen.

[FreydaWright]

Come on, folks. It's Kojima we're talking about here. This is all just an elaborate ruse.

[Finalfantasykid]

You never know. For all we know David Hayter already finished all the voice work :P

[SeraphimBlade]

!... also :(

[The_Klank]

Shouldn't really come as a surprise. David tweeted months ago to his fans asking how would they feel if he wasn't in the next Metal Gear.

It sucks but I can understand if he wanted to leave the role behind him and I can also understand Kojima wanting a change for whatever reason.

[The_Klank]

Here it is btw it was actually the start of this month and it was a poll.

https://twitter.com/DavidBH...

https://twitter.com/DavidBH...

[-Gespenst-]

Just so long as the new guy's voice isn't really generic and action movie star-like. David Hayter made the character so unique.

[JeepGamer]

Unfortunate but hardly a deal breaker.

But really, if we could either just let this franchise go like Kojima has wanted to do for awhile now...

...Or accept a new lead character.

[Enigma_2099]

You do realize that you're talking to the rabid fanbase that sent death threats to him over wanting to leave the franchise, right?

[clintagious650]

Just like when the voice actor for pervy sage was the same for zaraki kenpachi for the dubbed versions of naruto & bleach. Now the new voice actor for zaraki kenpachi sucks. The game will still be great but the voice will kinda be like come on thats not snake. Guess ill live but really sad for Hayter.

[Shinro]

I actually had this weird theory that the man in the hospital was not snake at all.

I thought they were gonna pull a Raiden in which the guy in the hospital is not the real snake but is only playable in the prologue.

Oh well. Could still happen.

[TemplarDante]

Anyone who says they are justified as Its time they differentiate the voices does not understand the lore.
They are, afterall 100% the same genetically.
Why change the voice why Kojima San???!?!?!?

[NBT91]

Solidus was actually the perfect clone of Big Boss, he was more identical to him than Solid was. Yet he sounded completely different.

[WitWolfy]

I just died a little...

[PygmelionHunter]

Not gonna lie, this is easily the worst news I've received all day... David Hayter is a LEGEND! But, oh well, after playing MGS2 with freaking Raiden and Rose calling in on the Codec, this is hardly a deal-breaker.

[My_Name_BTW_Is_Dante]

Yet another Metal Gear ruined by the 360. They might as well take the "Solid" out of this title too.

[fsfsxii]

For once, you said something right!
I think we will be getting a bad version of MGSV because of MS's stupid restriction about MP games being inferior on the 360 to the PS3. You say some good things some times.

[Rattlehead20]

So how is it the 360's fault that the voice actor is different.

Give me strength.

[jrbeerman11]

ugh what?

[FantasyStar]

For the sake of the story; there needs to be a new voice for BB to better establish his own persona as the leader of Outer Heaven and the Commander of Special Forces FOXHOUND.

Remember MGS fans: this ISN'T Solid Snake. It's Big Boss. Always has been. If you didn't want to believe it then: you're going to have to now.

[WitWolfy]

Well Ergo BIG Boss aka Naked Snake has the same voice as Solid Snake.. It isnt as if Big Boss is in his 70's like in MGS 4 where another VA was needed to tell the differences between the two characters, or possibly that Big boss probably just smoked a lot and thats why his voice was different.

Even Old Snake with his accelerated life span still left him with his vanilla voice.

[FantasyStar]

I wonder what KojiPro was thinking at the time when they decided to cast Hayter as Big Boss in MGS3. It wasn't a secret back in 2005 that MGS3 would feature Big Boss.

[black911]

It's not a PlayStation Exclusive anymore What Do you expect. The series is officially Dead!

[matrixman92]

mgs2 wasnt a sony exclusive...was it dead then?

[first1NFANTRY]

well it was and still is the least favorable in the series but to say MGS is dead is just plain idiocy.

We've only gotten one MGS game this gen and that was 4.

Kiefer Sunderland is a great actor and has a memorable voice so i'm kinda hopeful it turns out good.

[fsfsxii]

lol, people are overreacting, i hope that it won't be like DmC all over again.
People, get it, Big Boss grew up, and when you grow up, your voice starts changing, the END.

[Heisenburger]

Really?

Lol....

I don't know of many forty-something year old men who's voices changed at all, much less to a completely different voice, when they *aged a couple of years....

I mean....

REALLY?!

[NBT91]

I don't know of many forty-something year olds who go through nine year comas, either. But I would bet they would sound different after, if they did.

[PS4isKing_82]

Wow this is strange news considering hayter voiced him in snake eater and big boss wasn't much younger than this game. Plus playing a MGS game for the first time without his voice at all is gunna feel weird. Hayter and snake/big boss have been with us since 98 on the ps1.

[Veneno]

If Hayter isnt in, then they better not try to mimic the most famous voice in all of videogames that he created. It just wouldnt be right. It be like kojima saying thanks but F you.

[Iltapalanyymi]

oh come on people. as far as i miss david hayter too, let me tell you. wouldn't be awkward when there is a scene where snake and big boss are talking? would it sound great if he was just talking to himself? Also: Kojima and Hideo are trolling us. i think hayter will make at list one appearance in the game.

[abzdine]

no way i'll buy this

[DJ]

It's unfortunate, but at the end of MGS4 Big Boss was voiced by a different actor. It only makes sense for David Hayter to voice Snake and Young Big Boss, and another person to voice Older Big Boss.

People's voices change as they get older.

[T3MPL3TON]

Big Boss is OLD now. Old Big Boss is not voiced by Hayter. It's just that simple. It's not that he was subbed he just wasn't needed. I'm sure if Snake or Solid Snake made an appearance they'd have called, Hayter.

[HmongAmerican]

When I watch that GDC demo, I knew there was something wrong with Snake voice. For a second, I thought it wasn't Snake because his voice was different. Long time MGS fan will be piss if David Hayter don't return to voice as Snake. Everyone knew David Hayter as the voice of Snake. I don't like the way this turning into. Prepare for fan outrage.

[Mkai28]

I think a lot of people may not even look in Kojima's direction if Mr Hayter is not the voice of Snake. Same with the new SplinterCell, Michael Ironside will no longer do the voice of Sam Fisher. The bad part about this is they never even asked David Hayter about doing the part. It's just not the same having voices your accustom to and then changing. I may not get this or Splintercell :( What's next, changing the voice of Master Chief?

[Lucreto]

I think Kojima and now Hayter are trolling us.

[Muigi]

Well I'm not going to let a voice actor change my decision to buy what will most likely be game of the year.

[EdoubleD]

In the debut trailer when 'Miller' said.''What about him?'' It made me think, what if this story after the GZ section isn't about Big Boss?

[Summons75]

Yeah, curious who you are in that scene since snake is right there with miller on the other side. This is gonna be a great game, I just really wish they would get hayter back.

[blackbirdi]

hope it's just PR joke

[InTheLab]

Love Hayter but my loyalties are with Kojima...

This was bound to happen sooner or later. Sometimes, you need to switch things up. Like how Kevin Conroy won't always be Batman. Nothing wrong with variety...

[Prcko]

i think i won't buy this,snake without hayter is not snake.
let's imagine robert deniro with arnold voice in movies,would that be good -.-
kojima WTF????

[HiGwA]

April Fools!!!

[Heavenly King]

I bet they have changed the VO to the actor that is going to portrait Snake in the movie. The movie is going to be made in the US, and not in Japan, so that explains the change.

[Condemnedman]

They will probably change his voice to match the whining dorks on here!

[oldassgamer]

Why do developers always out think themselves. If it is true, it is a sad day for MGS. Hayter is a Snake, and it would be truly disappointing if someone replaced him as the voice of Snake.

[e-p-ayeaH]

mixed feelings with this maybe its a little to soon to jump on the gun Kojima just might be trolling with us.

[TeflonHahn]

To all the people saying that we're "whining". Can you imagine if Darth Vader had a different voice actor? How about Mickey Mouse? Homer Simpson? See the point I'm getting at here? Many of us grew up with this guy. Snake's voice is iconic and just as important as the codec ring or the alert sound.

[PirateThom]

Darth Vader and Mickey Mouse HAVE had different voice actors, so I don't really see the point you're making unless it's most people don't notice when it changes.

[TeflonHahn]

Ok. But despite the subtle changes, the voices have at least been replicated. They didn't sound 100% different all together. Didn't think someone needed to be led to the water on that one. Love how the Homer Simpson bit was negated as well.

[sdplisken]

HOLY F*** THIS PISSES ME OFF!!!!!!

HAYTER IS A F***ING LEGEND WHY WOULD KOJIMA DO THIS???????

the only thing i can think is if he wanted hayter to be solid's voice and somebody else for big boss so they can eventually have an EPIC showdown (and not have the same voice actor)

I HOPE THAT IS THE CASE

I ALSO HOPE AND PRAY AFTER MGS5, Kojima remakes Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 msx games on PS4!!!!!!!!!!

I WOULD SHIT MY PANTS IF THAT HAPPENED!

[cell989]

FACT- Without Hayter, there is no Naked Snake or Solid Snake

[MeatAbstract]

I reckon he'll be in there somewhere or he'll be used again for later games. Solid Snake maybe a clone but remember, there were other clones. Liquid was British and Solidus sounded far different as well. Big Boss should rightfully so have a different voice.

[Enigma_2099]

Did anyone bother to ask if Hayter even WANTS to do another Metal Gear Solid game?

And how many times are people going to whine about being able to play as Snake?!??! You're getting a new Metal Gear Solid game! Just be happy for once.

[very normal guy]

shuyin you must read that : http://www.impactaging.com/...

[KillrateOmega]

I'm really going to miss Hayter. Regardless of your opinion of his voice acting and whether or not it sounds cheesy, his voice is iconic. He IS Snake.

I'll get the game, but man I'll miss him. I hope that they plan to bring him back for future games.

[blind-reaper]

I won't believe it until I finish the game, once they told us there would not be big boss in MGS4, we all know how that end it. I must admit I don't fully trust that Kojima.

[DanielForth]

Thuck This

[rammstein91]

hayters gonna hayt!