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Warframe devs say adding Critical Role’s Matt Mercer is a ‘dream come true’
Matt Mercer, the voice actor and Dungeon Master behind the podcast Critical Role, will voice Brysko, a newly created playable warframe designed as a noir-style detective protagonist. Brysko anchors the Tau expansion launching in 2026 and uses extensive inner monologue to drive the narrative forward, positioning Mercer's performance as integral to the campaign's storytelling. The character inhabits a noir-tinged world featuring detective work, casino encounters, and conflict with the Sentient ruler Hunra.
The casting culminates years of effort by Warframe's creative director Rebecca Ford, who repeatedly pitched Mercer during chance meetings at The Game Awards. The studio's community director characterised Ford's talent recruitment as comparable to assembling rare collectibles, emphasising Mercer's established credentials in gaming through work on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and his leadership of Critical Role.
In short
- Matt Mercer joins Warframe as voice actor for Brysko, a noir-themed detective warframe starring in the 2026 Tau expansion
- The character relies on inner monologue narration, making Mercer's performance central to the story experience
- Creative director Rebecca Ford pursued the casting for years at The Game Awards before finally securing Mercer
Explained simply
Warframe is a free-to-play online action game where players control customisable warrior suits called warframes. The game's developers have announced that voice actor and podcast host Matt Mercer will provide voices for a new character called Brysko, a noir-detective-style warframe coming to the game as part of a major expansion launching in 2026. The character relies heavily on narration and internal monologue to tell the story, making Mercer's voice work central to this new campaign.
Matt Mercer is best known as the creator and Dungeon Master of Critical Role, a popular podcast and streaming show in which he and fellow performers play Dungeons and Dragons together. He has also worked as a voice actor on major video games, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Mercer is a well-established figure within gaming culture.
The casting represents an achievement for Warframe's creative director Rebecca Ford, who spent years attempting to recruit Mercer and pitched the idea at various industry events including The Game Awards. The game's team described securing his involvement as comparable to acquiring a rare collectible, highlighting how challenging it proved to bring someone of his standing into the project.