Starfinder: Afterlight Has All The Talent It Needs to Be The Next Baldur’s Gate 3

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The creators of Starfinder: Afterlight weren’t trying to replicate Baldur’s Gate 3 in space, but they were inspired by Larian Studios’ approach to character development. Like Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfinder: Afterlight features a fantastic voice cast to bring its companions to life. These companions, though a diverse and sometimes quirky group, become a close-knit family as they search for Captain Khali. The game already boasts a talented cast, and thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, full voice acting will be included for all characters.

The voice cast of Starfinder: Afterlight – Melissa Medina (Lu-323), James Alexander (Sterling), Neil Newbon (Preach, and also the voice director), Fred Tatasciore (Kole Stryker), and Inel Tomlinson (Tycho) – are all searching for the missing Captain Khali, voiced by Carolina Ravassa. Medina, Alexander, Ravassa, and Newbon recently discussed with Game Rant how they developed their characters and the relationships within the crew. Despite being early in the recording process, the actors feel like the Starfinder: Afterlight crew has already become a close-knit family.

Starfinder: Afterlight’s Companions Go From “Ragtag Crew” To “Spacefaring Family”

Voice recording for Starfinder: Afterlight’s characters is still in progress, and most of the actors have been recording their lines separately. However, everyone understands that their characters are both unique individuals and members of a team. Alexander, one of the actors, especially enjoys exploring how the characters interact with each other. He says, “Whether they get along or not, it’s always fun to play. It’s also really interesting to discover what attracts them to each other, what bothers them, and ultimately, what keeps this quirky group together.”

Neil Newbon, the voice director for Starfinder: Afterlight, is very pleased with the voice actors’ performances, having been present at all recording sessions. He shared his excitement about exploring the characters’ relationships, saying, “It’s going to be a fascinating experience. The beginning stages are the most exciting – it’s all about discovery.” Newbon specifically praised the work of Alexander, Ravassa, and Medina, noting they quickly grasped their characters’ personalities, motivations, and overall arcs.

Each Companion Tells A Unique Story

The crew is led by Captain Khali, a captivating and brave leader whose disappearance the players will need to solve. Voice actress Carolina Ravassa particularly enjoyed playing Khali because she felt the character broke the mold of typical female action heroes. She liked that Khali was funny and quirky, rather than just cool and attractive, and she applauded media like Guardians of the Galaxy for starting to move in that direction.

I used to notice that action movie heroines always seemed…perfect. Like, they were total pros who never messed up their hair or even broke a sweat. It was cool, but a little unrealistic. Now, I’m really enjoying seeing female characters who are more complex – a bit wild, a little goofy, and just generally more human. It makes them way more relatable and fun to play as, or even just watch!

Sterling Is The Internet’s Favorite For Romance

James Alexander really enjoys playing his character, Sterling, describing him as charming and romantic. He’s been pleased with the positive fan response to Sterling, especially how many players want to pursue a relationship with the character Borai. Alexander is hoping Sterling becomes as popular as other well-loved RPG romance options, jokingly challenging a character named Astarion to ‘watch out’ for competition.

Newbon quickly responded to a challenge involving Astarion with the vampire spawn’s characteristic smirk, playfully dismissing it and asserting that Astarion’s intelligence would ensure his continued popularity with fans. He did compliment Alexander’s performance, and suggested that Sterling’s kind and polite demeanor would make him a distinct contrast to the more complex and morally gray Astarion.

Sterling has a refined, almost gentlemanly quality, like a spy who’s always cautious. While people might naturally compare him to Astarion, he’s really a very different character with his own distinct personality.

While creating the character of Sterling, Alexander took cues from classic heroic and romantic figures, and also a bit from charming rogues. He specifically mentioned James Bond, Lestat from Sam Reed’s version of Interview with the Vampire, and Ralph Fiennes’ Gustave H. from The Grand Budapest Hotel as inspirations. Despite Sterling’s sophisticated exterior, Alexander believes he’s far from consistently successful in achieving his goals.

Characters Like Lu-323 Reflect The Game’s Broader Themes

The actors praised how thoughtfully Epictellers Entertainment developed the central ideas behind each companion’s story in Starfinder: Afterlight. For example, Lu-323, an android designed to charm and gather information, grapples with questions of identity and whether she’s more than just her programmed purpose. Melissa Medina, the actor playing Lu, found this internal conflict very helpful in shaping her performance, and she even used her own personal experiences to bring the character to life.

I’ve always been someone who questions things. Growing up in a military family and then working in the corporate world, I consistently found myself pushing back against expectations. I really connect with Lu because she’s on a similar journey – trying to discover who she is, independent of what others have told her to be.

More Characters And Voices Will Be Joining The Starfinder: Afterlight Cast

Beyond the companions already announced, Starfinder: Afterlight will soon be adding even more voice actors to the game. The game’s Kickstarter campaign, ending November 6th, successfully reached a goal that unlocks full voice acting for every character. Newbon, as voice director, is thrilled to be able to grow the cast.

I’m really excited about where we’re going with the cast – we’re expanding the search pretty widely! And I want to be super clear: we’re absolutely against using AI to create performances. We’re committed to finding real actors – humans! – to play even non-human characters. A big priority for us is making sure the cast is diverse and representative, and we want to be a positive force supporting actors all over the world.

Newborn admitted some comparisons to Baldur’s Gate 3 are fair, but stressed that Starfinder: Afterlight isn’t aiming to be the same game in a sci-fi setting. He believes the two games have very different atmospheres, with Starfinder: Afterlight prioritizing humor, action, and adventure. He also explained that Epictellers Entertainment has taken inspiration from Larian Studios’ approach to game development – focusing on creating the most enjoyable experience possible with the available time and resources.

He commended Larian Studios for how well they treat their cast and crew. He also mentioned that Epictellers adopted a similar philosophy, prioritizing both actors and players in their work.

Larian Studios genuinely cares for its team and talent, prioritizing fair pay and the well-being of its people over maximizing profits. That commitment is the driving force behind this project and is incredibly inspiring to everyone involved, especially considering the amazing work Swen Vincke and the entire Larian team have accomplished.

While Starfinder: Afterlight isn’t necessarily trying to follow in Baldur’s Gate 3‘s footsteps, it shares a similar strength: a remarkably talented cast bringing its characters to life. We can expect even more exciting casting news soon, like the recent announcement of Roger Clark as the game’s narrator, as the team continues to expand the list of actors involved.

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2025-11-05 20:36