Borderlands 3 replaces voice actor for Claptrap. When IGN showed the gameplay reveal footage, fans took notice that Claptrap sounded different. Eddings went on Twitter to reveal that he does not voice Claptrap in Borderlands 3.
Claptrap’s voice actor has been replaced for Borderlands 3.
David Eddings was the VP of business development for Gearbox Software for 12 years. He eventually left the company in 2017. During that time he did some voice work on the side. He voiced the character Claptrap in Gearbox’s Borderlands franchise.
Claptrap is a rectangular robot with one shiny eye in the center. He moves with his one wheel and is known for his outgoing personality. Besides the psycho bandits, Claptrap often serves as the franchise’s mascot.
When IGN showed the gameplay reveal footage, fans took notice that Claptrap sounded different. Eddings went on Twitter to reveal that he does not voice Claptrap in Borderlands 3.
No. For the first time, I insisted on getting paid for my performance and all of a sudden they couldn’t afford me. Now I’m not telling them how to run their business but maybe next time they should put the $12M payment from 2K in the Gearbox bank account instead. Just sayin’…
— David Eddings (@davideddings) May 2, 2019
A spokesperson for Gearbox told IGN the following:
“Gearbox works to treat and compensate all voice actors at industry standards. We offer the opportunity for salaried employees to voice characters in the game but is not a mandatory responsibility to their job requirements. In this particular case, now that he was no longer an employee, we offered him an industry standard rate but were not able to reach an agreement. We are confident and happy with Jim Foronda as the voice of Claptrap, and we are confident our fans will be too.”
Though Edding’s Initial Twitter post seemed bitter, he would later reply to a fan a more positive outlook. He says he’s leaving open the door for three more people to get hired.
The current voice of Claptrap is Jim Foronda, a voice actor who has worked on multiple dubbings for anime. Gearbox’s statement towards IGN reveals it, and Foronda also confirms it on his Twitter.
Here’s my official announcement saying what many of you already figured out: I am voicing Claptrap in #Borderlands3. Thanks for your support– I promise you all that I’ll be the best Clappy I can be!
And with that, I present my LEGO render of @GearboxOfficial’s voiceover booth. pic.twitter.com/no2tUEe813
— Jim Foronda (@JimForonda) May 1, 2019
David Eddings is currently the head of game publishing for Rooster Teeth.
Eddings isn’t the only voice actor to be recast in Borderlands 3. Prolific voice actor Troy Baker has also revealed he was not returning to voice the character Rhys in the game.
