The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike has been sending shockwaves through the gaming industry for months, and now Bungie’s Destiny 2: Heresy is the latest title to feel its impact. Players diving into the expansion will notice something unusual—certain characters are completely silent. This isn’t a bug or an oversight but a direct result of the strike, which has left Bungie unable to record necessary voice lines.

Why Are Voice Lines Missing in Destiny 2: Heresy?

For over a year, members of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing voice actors, have been on strike, pushing for stronger protections against the unchecked rise of generative AI in the gaming industry. Their demands include fair wages, guarantees that AI won’t replace human performances, and better working conditions. While some game studios have adjusted their strategies to accommodate the strike, others, like Bungie, have had to release content with noticeable gaps.

According to Bungie’s latest blog post, subtitles will be enabled by default in Heresy to ensure that players can still follow the story, even though certain voice performances are missing. Additionally, the game will include an in-game notification before activities where voice acting is absent, reminding players to turn on subtitles if they haven’t already.

Bungie has not confirmed exactly how widespread this issue is or when the missing voiceovers will be added back in. Given the current state of negotiations, it’s unlikely that these lines will be restored anytime soon. The longer the strike continues, the more Destiny 2—and other major game franchises—will feel its effects.

The Bigger Picture: The SAG-AFTRA Strike’s Impact on Gaming

Destiny 2 isn’t the only game feeling the sting of this industry-wide labor dispute. Hideo Kojima’s OD, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and League of Legends are just a few other titles that have been impacted. The strike is now in its seventh month, and negotiations remain at a standstill. While SAG-AFTRA made some progress in October by securing a deal with AI company Ethovox—which included session fees and a revenue-sharing model—this wasn’t enough to bring an end to the strike. Talks have since stalled, and actors continue to hold the line.

The lack of a resolution means the situation is only going to escalate. So far, we haven’t seen major game delays directly linked to the strike, but if the standoff continues, it’s not unreasonable to expect scheduling setbacks and deeper content disruptions in future releases.

What’s Next for Destiny 2 Players?

For now, Bungie is encouraging players to embrace the silent storytelling and rely on subtitles to piece together the missing dialogue. It’s a temporary fix, but one that might not sit well with players who are deeply invested in the game’s immersive experience. While the gameplay itself remains intact, there’s no denying that the missing voice lines detract from the usual cinematic quality Destiny 2 is known for.

As for when things might return to normal, it all depends on how long the strike lasts. Until an agreement is reached between SAG-AFTRA and the major gaming studios, we can expect more games to launch with similar voice-over gaps—or possibly even delays in upcoming releases.

For now, Destiny 2 players will have to adjust, and the gaming industry at large will have to reckon with the growing impact of an unresolved labor dispute that shows no signs of ending soon.