Ben Diskin, the voice actor who provided the voice of Mega Man in the 2018 release Mega Man 11, says he will not be returning to the series because Capcom refuses to use unionized voice actors. The situation marks a significant escalation in the ongoing battle between game publishers and voice performers' unions over job protections and AI safeguards.
Diskin revealed in a post that he had to refuse Capcom's offer to reprise his role in Mega Man: Dual Override, as it was only offered to him on the basis that he "work without the protections" offered by SAG-AFTRA. He also claimed he offered to work for a lower rate if the job could be done through SAG-AFTRA, but was told "with certainty, from [Capcom], that the project will not go union."
SAG-AFTRA has issued a "Do Not Work Order" against the twelfth mainline entry in the Mega Man series, titled Mega Man: Dual Override, as Capcom has failed to "initiate the signatory process" required to hire unionized actors. As such, SAG-AFTRA members are hereby instructed to withhold any acting services or performance of any covered work for this production until further notice from the union.
The core issue stems from protections that voice actors fought hard to secure. After members of the union went on strike for nearly a year (from July 2024 to June 2025), a new agreement was ratified that provides "guardrails and gains around A.I., including consent and disclosure requirements for A.I." Diskin noted that while Capcom has promised that "AI protections" will be in place, there is no way for him as an individual to hold it to those terms. "The only way to enforce non-union contracts like this involves personally taking giant companies like Capcom to court and suing if I thought they'd used AI. I don't have the mental, emotional, or monetary strength to survive a protracted legal fight," Diskin wrote.
The situation is not entirely new for Capcom. The company has a complex history with unionised talent, though recent releases suggest a shift back toward union partnerships for major projects. This stance on Mega Man: Dual Override stands out as a notable reversal.
Diskin is not the original or only voice of Mega Man, but Mega Man 11 is both the most recent and best-selling entry in the game series, making him the presumptive choice for the character in the upcoming Mega Man: Dual Override, which is expected out in 2027. Capcom has not publicly explained its decision to pursue a non-union approach. Diskin theorized that it may have something to do with SAG-AFTRA's A.I. guardrail protections.
For more information on union protections in video game production, visit the SAG-AFTRA website.