Final Fantasy 14 has been no stranger to voice actor controversies over the years, and the latest buzz might just be the most significant yet. Fans are speculating about a potential replacement for the beloved G’raha Tia, especially with the resurfacing of this chatter around patch 7.4, dubbed Into the Mist by Square Enix. This update is packed with exciting new content, including a new trial and a fresh variant dungeon, but instead, chatter has shifted to a certain iconic cat boy and his voice.
One Reddit user kicked off a thread asking, “Is it just me, or does G’raha Tia sound different in the 7.4 patch?” They pondered whether Jonathan Bailey, the long-time English voice behind the Miqo’te character, has been replaced. “Does anyone know?” they queried, leading to a lively discussion among fans mulling over why Bailey’s voice may have taken on a different tone.
Responses varied, with one user even positing, “This is completely unsourced and from my friend, but apparently it is still Jonathan Bailey. He was ill after his work on Wicked, and that’s why he sounds so different.” This theory certainly holds water, given Bailey’s recent role as Prince Fiyero in the musical Wicked. Another commenter articulated what many might be feeling: “It sounds like G’raha, but he’s utterly fucking exhausted.”
Echoing that sentiment, another thread probed the question, “What is wrong with G’raha’s voice?” One participant noted, “Recording two full-length musicals will tire you out a bit,” which, if accurate, explains a lot about the character’s apparent change.
There’s also some speculation whether Bailey has indeed been recast, considering he’s become increasingly busy post-Wicked and may demand a higher rate. However, there’s currently no formal confirmation from Square Enix regarding a voice change.
At the end of the day, many fans bet that Bailey is simply exhausted from the demands of his recent projects. It’s tough to determine the true reason unless either he or the developers clarify things. For now, let’s just hope for the best and keep those fingers crossed as we dive into these exciting new adventures in Eorzea.