About Troy Baker
Troy Baker is one of the most recognizable voice actors in the video game industry, known for his roles as Joel in The Last of Us, Indiana Jones, Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid, Booker DeWitt in Bioshock, and Sam Drake in Uncharted. His extensive experience has given him a unique perspective on storytelling and game design.
Troy Baker's New Venture
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Baker announced his intention to start creating video games himself. He draws inspiration from Abubakar Salim, who voiced Bayek in Assassin's Creed before founding Surgent Studios. Baker admires Salim's journey, stating, "I love Abu, I played the hell out of his games." Surgent Studios' debut title, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, won a BAFTA and received multiple nominations, showcasing the potential for Baker's new venture.
Baker has collaborated with some of the industry's biggest names, including Ken Levine, Hideo Kojima, Neil Druckmann, Todd Howard, and Vince Zampella. He expressed excitement about applying the principles learned from these industry leaders to his own projects. Baker aims to innovate while emulating the storytelling elements that have defined successful titles.
What to Expect
As Baker begins this new chapter, he emphasizes a careful approach to game development. He mentions, "Somebody asked me in one of those meetings: 'what's your timeline?', and I said 'not rushed.'" This suggests that he intends to take his time to ensure the quality of his storytelling meets the high standards set by the games he admires. Baker's potential debut title is already drawing comparisons to iconic games like Bioshock and Metal Gear.
Despite his extensive voice acting career, Baker's transition into game development is in the early planning stages. His previous roles, such as his acclaimed performance as Ocelot and the charming Higgs in Death Stranding, demonstrate his talent, but fans will have to wait for further updates on his projects. Baker also humorously recalled Todd Howard's initial reluctance to cast him as Indiana Jones, noting, "My favorite part of that story is how Todd Howard, when they originally brought my name to him, rolled his eyes like, 'No, I'm not putting Troy Baker in my game.'"