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We recently had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with acclaimed voice actor Ben Starr, who captivated gamers worldwide with his performance as Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI. Now, Starr is taking on the role of the mysterious Verso in the highly anticipated RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. In our conversation, he shared insights about joining the project, his approach to the character, and what players can expect from this exciting new title.
Landing the Role
Ben Starr’s journey to becoming part of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 seems to have been a matter of perfect timing. Initially invited to read for a character in a trailer, Starr was immediately captivated by the game’s visual appeal.
“Much like my journey into Final Fantasy, how I came to be in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 feels very much like a right place at the right time sort of situation,” Starr explains. “I was given the opportunity to read for a character in a trailer. When I turned up to the studio, I was greeted with one of the most sensational looking video games I’d ever seen.”
The actor’s enthusiasm for the project was immediate and authentic: “I remember saying to the team on the line ‘this game looks absolutely incredible. I feel like it was made specifically for me.'”
Interestingly, the casting team didn’t initially recognize Starr, whose star had been rising rapidly in the gaming world. “I believe it was then halfway through the session that the team realized who I was. My casting was never set in stone, it was only when the team and I chatted properly about who Verso was, and the crazy journey that he would go on that I was officially offered the role.”
Unveiling Verso: Mystery and Complexity
After his voice was featured prominently in the game’s first trailer, many fans speculated that Starr might be playing the protagonist. Instead, he voices Verso, a character who appears to have a compelling anti-hero or villain vibe.
“It was so gratifying to see the initial response to the first trailer,” Starr commented. “I felt honoured that so many people recognised my contribution to that trailer. It was also incredibly fun to see people speculate about my role.”
While remaining intentionally cryptic about Verso’s role, Starr hints at the character’s significance: “The team has crafted a twisting narrative, that will go places you might not expect. Verso is an intrinsic cornerstone to that narrative ethos. His mystery and complexity are what makes him so exciting.”
His advice for players? “My recommendation to all players would be to go in blind and look forward to where Verso’s journey will take you.”
Collaborative Character Development
When asked about his approach to portraying Verso compared to his previous roles, Starr highlighted the collaborative nature of the development process.
“It was very exciting to go into the studio and bring a character to life that so many other talented people have had a hand in crafting,” he said. “This truly is a labour of love, and to be able to add my fingerprint to this project has been an absolute honour.”
Starr emphasized the hands-on involvement of the development team during recording sessions: “It was incredibly comforting to have Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, Lead Writer & Localization Producer, and Guillaume Broche, CEO of Sandfall Interactive & Creative Director in the studio for every one of our sessions. It really felt like we were building the character together.”
He also highlighted the joy of working alongside fellow voice actor Jennifer English: “Also to get to work with Jennifer English so closely was such a treat. We would sometimes sit in on each other’s sessions just to see what the other person was doing! It’s great when you actually get to work with your friends. I think being able to have that real life relationship with someone translates to a more dynamic performance.”
A Fresh Take on RPG Nostalgia
As an avid RPG fan himself, Starr was particularly drawn to the game’s innovative approach to familiar genre elements.
“The world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, feels somehow completely original, and comfortingly familiar at the same time,” he observes. “Fans of RPGs will have most likely played turn-based combat systems before, they have walked around overworld maps, they have customised their characters to suit their play style.”
What makes the game stand out, in his view, is how it builds upon beloved traditions: “It feels like the team at Sandfall Interactive has managed to bottle nostalgia and create something that feels so fresh and exciting. The reactive turn-based combat seen in this game is such a cool evolution of systems that have worked together before in incredible games like Lost Odyssey and Super Mario RPG.”
For Starr, however, the most compelling aspect of any RPG is its storytelling: “If I’m being honest, RPGs have always been primary vectors of story for me. It’s the narrative that keeps me hooked. It’s why I play them. And hopefully that’s where the game will resonate. The characters are so vividly drawn and the way they interact with each other feels so real and relatable.”
A Message to the Fans
Concluding our interview, Starr shared his excitement for the community that will form around Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 once it releases.
“I just can’t wait for the fans to discover this world. I can’t wait to see the artwork, read the fan fiction, and watch the analysis videos. I can’t wait to share in the excitement with them.”
With his track record of bringing depth and nuance to gaming characters, Starr’s performance as Verso will undoubtedly be one of many reasons to look forward to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 when it releases.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is launching on 24 April 2025 and is available to pre-order now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (available on day one with Xbox Game Pass), and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. For more information and updates on Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, visit the official website, X and TikTok.
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