Summary
Chris Niosi has stepped down as the voice of Moze inHonkai: Star Rail, leaving HoYoverse to search for a suitable replacement. In a recent Twitter post, Niosi addressed some concerns from theHonkai: Star Railcommunity and finalized his departure from the game to pursue self-reflection in the form of therapy and medical intervention. HoYoverse also released a statement to acknowledge Niosi stepping down from the role, ensuring that Moze’s lines would be re-recorded in a future update.
Moze is an upcoming 4-star DPS character, set for release inHonkai: Star Rail’supcoming Version 2.5 update. Moze acts as the Shadow Guard of the Yaoqing, an expert in close-range assassination from the shadows. HoYoverse has confirmed thatMoze will follow theHonkai: Star RailPath of The Huntand possess the elemental power of Lightning, like Acheron.
HoYoverse announced it would be finding a replacement for Chris Niosi as the voice of Moze following backlash from theHonkai: Star Railcommunity. Earlier this week, Niosi confirmed in a Twitter post that he had contacted his agent and voluntarily resigned from the role. Following the announcement on July 18 that Niosi would be providing Moze’s voice, manyHonkai: Star Railplayers reacted negatively to his involvement, drawing attention to past abuse allegations. In July 2019, one of Niosi’s ex-girlfriends came forward to accuse him of emotionally and sexually manipulating behavior.
Chris Niosi Issues Public Apology After Stepping Down From Honkai: Star Rail Role
Once his ex-girlfriend’s blog post made the rounds on the internet, several other ex-partners and former colleagues of the voice actor also came forward to report sexual misconduct. After the initial allegations surfaced, Niosi was removed from Nintendo’sFire Emblemseries as the voice of theFire Emblem: Three Housesprotagonist, Byleth,who returned inFire Emblem Engage. When HoYoverse hired him to play Moze, theHonkai: Star Railcommunity expressed their disapproval and outrage. HoYoverse was subsequently criticized for failing to perform a sufficient background check on Niosi, concerns which, quote, a “simple Google search” would have alleviated.
In his ownstatement, Niosi states that he understands the public’s reaction to his past shortcomings, but ensures theHonkai: Star Railcommunity and the entire gaming industry that he is actively pursuing medical intervention and remains committed to his life-long work of rehabilitating himself into a better person. As Niosi signs off the post, he thanks HoYoverse for the opportunity, however short-lived it may have been. For HoYoverse, the hunt is on to find a suitable replacement beforeMoze’s anticipated release as part ofHonkai: Star RailVersion 2.5in a few months' time.
Honkai: Star Rail
WHERE TO PLAY
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