Genshin Impact’s beloved mascot, Paimon, has been recast in the English dub as of version 5.7. Players began noticing a fresher, softer tone in leaked dialogue datamined ahead of the patch. The new voice retains Paimon’s trademark pitch but sounds distinctly different—sparking buzz across the player base. Though HoYoverse hasn’t named the new actor, the official patch notes confirm the voice change and signal a full replacement of older lines over time
Corina Boettger’s Conflict: Claims, Controversy, and Community Backlash
Corina Boettger, who voiced Paimon from launch until now, sparked controversy by publicly demanding better pay and union protections, claiming she was owed thousands and struggling to pay rent despite the game’s success. However, fans quickly noticed inconsistencies: Boettger emphasized leaving over strike solidarity but continued working non-union, prompting accusations of hypocrisy. Critics note she may have lied about quitting, choosing instead to frame her exit in a favorable light.
That narrative didn’t sit well with the community. A Change.org petition titled “Change Paimon’s English Voice Actress” gained nearly 3,000 signatures, calling her unprofessional and blaming her for altering Paimon’s personality in English localization. Reddit users echoed this sentiment, calling her behavior “disgusting and unprofessional” and accusing her of using her autism as a shield while bullying others.
Fallout from the Kinich Recast Drama
Tensions peaked during the recast of Kinich’s English voice actor. Boettger and other union-affiliated actors publicly attacked Kinich’s replacement—Jacob Takanashi—calling him a “scab” and claiming, “You are no castmate of mine”. These posts sparked outrage as fans defended Takanashi and slammed Boettger’s tone. Reddit largely condemned her, stating: “She has no right to publicly harass another VA… this is all so, so dumb”
Why the Community Turned Against Her
There are two major reasons the fanbase turned hostile. First, many felt Boettger weaponized her autism to evade criticism while continuing to voice Paimon—appearing hypocritical and unprofessional. Second, fans had found her voice annoying for years; this controversy gave them a concrete reason to call for her recast. One top comment said: “Absolutely awful conduct… I refuse to ever listen to another one of Paimon’s English lines ever again”.
What This Change Means for Players
If you’re updating to version 5.7, you’ll hear Paimon’s new voice in fresh story content. Legacy lines will transition over time. The recast also signals HoYoverse’s effort to defuse ongoing community and actor disputes while maintaining a professional cast.
Beyond Paimon, voices like Aether and Venti are expected to stick around. The Kinich recast, however, may trigger more recasting decisions or push for union negotiations.
