Tabletop game adaptations are having their moment in the video game world following the success of 2023’s Baldur’s Gate 3. Epictellers Entertainment, the developers of Starfinder: Afterlight, a CRPG taking place in Paizo’s Starfinder setting, knew they wanted to follow Baldur’s Gate 3’s lead when developing their game. Like Larian Studios’ game, Starfinder: Afterlight will feature turn-based combat, a richly developed world, and a focus on telling the stories of individual companions encountered throughout the player’s journey. To help Afterlight follow in the footsteps of the Dungeons and Dragons adaptation, Epictellers Entertainment has teamed up with Neil Newbon, who played the role of iconic Baldur’s Gate 3 companion Astarion.
In a press event attended by Game Rant, Epictellers Entertainment co-founders Albert Jane and Ricard Pillosu revealed that Newbon is serving as the voice director for Starfinder: Afterlight, directing actors including Fred Tatasciore, Carolina Ravassa, Melissa Medina, and many still yet to be revealed. Jane and Pillosu refused to confirm or deny whether Newbon had taken on any acting roles in the game, but expressed that they would be honored to have his voice appear in the game in some capacity.
Newbon’s Support Has Been Valuable To The Game’s Development
Epictellers Entertainment is a relatively small and new studio, although its members have previously worked on a number of projects alongside larger studios such as Ubisoft and Gameloft. Pillosu explained that, when it came time to cast the game, they felt slightly overwhelmed, because “it was always someone else’s job.” Working with agency ICO Partners, the duo were introduced to Newbon, who was immediately excited to work on the project. In a statement on X made on october 7th, Newbon expressed his excitement, as well as clarifying that no AI would be used in the game’s development or voice acting.
Pillosu described the team’s first meeting with Neil Newbon as “overwhelming,” as they were already fans of his prior to teaming up with him on Starfinder: Afterlight. “But he’s fantastic,” Pillosu enthused. “There’s no way to not love that guy.” The award-winning actor, director, and motion capture artist was described by the Epictellers team as a valuable teacher, helping Epictellers develop their approach to casting Starfinder: Afterlight’s recruitable companions and NPCs.
In Starfinder: Afterlight, Characters Are The Focus
Pillosu, Jane, and their team began development on Starfinder: Afterlight by creating the game’s recruitable companions, which include wannabe action star Kole, android information specialist Lu-323, mysterious gentleman Sterling, and several who have not yet been revealed. Casting the correct actor for each role was extremely crucial. Neil Newbon’s experience was invaluable throughout the process. In particular, Pillosu shared the story of how Newbon helped them cast Melissa Medina in the role of Lu:
Casting for Sterling and Lu was a full weekend. We had 60 Sterlings and 60 Lus. Us and the writers were listening again and again and again. And, at some point, we got down to 10, we talked to Neil, and he said…you go with your heart. And that’s how we cast Melissa. We felt Melissa just was Lu.
Albert Jane agreed with Pillosu, explaining that he has been working in gaming for eight years but had never been directly involved in the casting process prior to Starfinder: Afterlight. He recounted a humorous moment when the team received Inel Tomlinson’s audition for the jaded Operative Tycho. Tomlinson sent in a 20-megabyte file, nearly ten times the size of most other auditions. Jane approached Newbon, concerned that “something must be wrong,” but Newbon confidently said: “He just likes the character. It’s great.” Ultimately, Tomlinson was cast in the role of Tycho, and, working together with Newbon, has developed a unique and memorable voice for the character.
Starfinder: Afterlight is launching a Kickstarter to seek community feedback, with the plan to launch in Early Access sometime in 2026. Other characters — and the actors who will be portraying them — will be revealed in the near future, although fans who hope to hear the iconic voice behind Baldur’s Gate 3’s vampire rogue in the game can’t yet be sure if they will be getting their wish.
