Source: HoYoverse
After the controversial casting and subsequent resignation of Chris Niosi, the 4-star character Moze has finally found a new VA.
Although no formal announcement has been made on Honkai: Star Rail’s official media channels, eagle-eyed fans noticed a new name being credited as Moze’s voice actor in the recent Keeping Up with Star Rail YouTube video: Ben Balmaceda.
This tidbit of information comes after the mass outrage back in July with Moze’s former VA Chris Niosi, who faced tremendous backlash after his involvement with Honkai: Star Rail was announced.
Niosi had faced major controversy back in 2019 after he acknowledged allegations of abusive and manipulative behaviour towards friends, colleagues, loved ones, and family, and would cite this event as a major reason for his resignation as Moze.
Ben Balmaceda, who also voices Kaveh from Genshin Impact, has now stepped up as the new voice for Moze. Although Niosi’s voicelines are still in the game in version 2.4, we may get to hear Balmaceda’s rendition of the character once Moze debuts in version 2.5 if the recording time frame permits it, however there is a chance that Moze’s new voice will be revealed fully in version 2.6.
This situation mirrors the previous Genshin Impact controversy regarding Tighnari’s former VA Elliot Gindi. Gindi was accused of grooming underaged fans back in 2023, and would be promptly removed from his position, right before the release of version 3.5 where he played a prominent role in that version’s main event. Zachary Gordon then replaced Gindi as Tighnari’s VA, with his re-recorded lines coming in with the subsequent version 3.6 update.