Video games are much more than just a source of entertainment; they’re a unique form of storytelling. Gamers connect deeply with a game’s narrative and its characters, often stepping into their shoes to experience the story firsthand. This powerful immersion is largely thanks to the talented voice actors who bring these digital heroes to life. Their work adds a human touch, transforming code and graphics into characters we can truly care about.
Few people have embodied this more successfully than Gabe Kunda, a name that resonates with millions of players across numerous blockbuster games. From KAY/O’s stern, robotic swagger in Valorant to Newcastle’s selfless, heroic gravitas in Apex Legends, Kunda has demonstrated an unrivalled ability to imbue synthetic characters with emotion.
In Marvel Rivals, he plays the famous Daywalker Blade, his most iconic role to date. Fans have been waiting on the character for months, analyzing every trailer and tease, and now that he’s finally out, he’s the ultimate hero who’s slicing through the entire roster.
In this exclusive interview, we speak with Gabe Kunda about his journey, the very personal experiences that molded his craft, and the unforeseen challenges — including a point when he believed he’d lost the role of Blade forever.
How KAY/O and Newcastle Were Voiced With a Little More Soul and Heart
Gabe Kunda is a well-known voice actor in the gaming community, recognized for bringing iconic characters to life through his unique voice and attitude. His most prominent roles are KAY/O from Valorant and Newcastle from Apex Legends. Kunda’s appeal among gamers originates from his unique ability to give his characters a personal touch, making them feel more authentic and accessible.
Kunda’s portrayal of KAY/O exemplifies his innovative approach to voice acting. When he first auditioned for the job, the character was portrayed as a standard, flat-toned robot. However, Kunda noticed something more in the design—a character with a “lived-in” feel and a “big bro” vibe. He opted to deviate from the basic brief and auditioned with a more relaxed and chill tone.
Rishabh: So, how did you approach voicing KAY/O? Because KAY/O is a robot. And requires a lot of that tone, that specific method to imitate an android. So, how did you approach voicing KAY/O in Valorant?
Gabe: When I auditioned, the first draft I recorded was just sticking to the brief. Then I decided I’m not gonna send this yet. I deleted the audition and then re-recorded my lines. I was like, I’m gonna do this in a more kind of chill, big bro kind of voice and just real down to earth.
Fortunately, the risk paid off, as the writers at Riot Games praised his interpretation, saying that he had helped them “find our guy.” This innovative decision is what has made KAY/O so popular with the Valorant community. The character’s blend of military accuracy with a cool, snarky attitude has struck a chord with gamers, making him a fan favorite. When asked what his favorite line was, he responded, “I know what they’re thinking, aimbot.”
His role as Newcastle in Apex Legends holds a deeply personal meaning for Kunda. The day he recorded his lines for the heroic, selfless character was the day after his mother passed away. Kunda channeled his grief and emotions into the performance, bringing a profound sense of depth and weight to Newcastle’s character.
He shared how the team at Respawn offered to reschedule the session, but he chose to use his work as a way to cope, knowing it was something his mother would have wanted him to do. The developers even wrote special lines in honor of his mother, which caught him by surprise and resulted in an emotional moment during the recording.
Rishabh: How did you bring that weight, and did you draw on some personal experiences to add depth to your voice acting for Newcastle?
Gabe: A lot of the pent-up kind of emotions and gravitas and just the stories…I was kind of like it was just right here for me… I needed something to…bury myself in my work sometimes, and that kind of helps me get through.
Daywalker with a Killer Playlist – Becoming Blade
Landing the role of Blade in Marvel Rivals was a dream come true for Gabe Kunda. The call came about a year ago, but the journey to the final product was a long and uncertain one. Kunda explained that he auditioned like any other actor and, while he “really wanted” the role, he tried not to get his hopes up, knowing that hundreds, if not thousands, of other actors may have also auditioned.
The manifestation of his dream was almost uncanny; just a week before his audition, someone at a convention had asked him which Marvel character he would love to play, and he had responded with Blade.
Rishabh: What was your reaction when you got the call?
Gabe: I couldn’t believe it… [They Asked] Is there any Marvel character that you would love to play? And I said, of course, I would love to give my hand at voicing Blade. Like it would be amazing to have that opportunity. And I auditioned for it like a week later, and then the week after that, I got a call saying that they wanted me.
However, the period after he was cast was filled with uncertainty. Kunda revealed that he went for months without a recording session and began to fear he had been replaced. He saw trailers for the game that featured Blade growling and wondered who had recorded the lines.
It wasn’t until June 2025 that he finally started recording. This long gap left him in a state of suspense, and he joked that he was almost “ghosted” by the developers at NetEase.
Rishabh: How difficult was it for you to keep that thing under wraps? Or did you already know that this was going to be the plan around Blade’s lore?
Gabe: I had no clue… I started to see on my timeline some people talking about leaks and stuff about Blade coming. So then I was like, Oh, wait, how is Blade coming? I haven’t recorded any lines for it yet. So how is this happening? [Then] I went to the developers. I was like, How long were you all going to keep this away?
Despite the long wait, Kunda’s portrayal of Blade has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from fans. The Marvel Rivals community went into a frenzy when they first heard his voice in the game’s trailer. They instantly recognized his voice and praised his performance.
Kunda attributes his take on Blade to a desire to give the character more than just a “dark and one-note” persona. He wanted to show a cooler, more collected, and “chill” side to the Daywalker, emphasizing that, having seen and done a lot, Blade doesn’t have much to prove. “Instead of just making him kind of one-note and very just kind of like, he’s dark and he’s like, because you already have other characters that do that, like Wolverine, I went the other way,” Kunda explained.
He wanted to lean into Blade’s aura and show his wit and personality through his interactions with other characters. Kunda notes conversations Blade has with Luna and how he talks about his playlists and music, revealing a softer side. He also touches on a moment where Blade compliments Psylocke’s outfit.
These subtle interactions, Kunda explains, show that “he’s not super cool-blooded” and that there are “moments where you’re seeing some of some light come out of this Daywalker.” Kunda believes these nuances make the character more complex and engaging for players.
Fans are particularly raving over the character’s ultimate ability, which is very similar to Vergil’s from Devil May Cry. Kunda himself was blown away when the developers showed him the animation in the recording booth, screaming like a girl and telling them, “You’re trying to implode the internet.” When asked to imitate the ultimate line, he enthusiastically shouted, “A thousand cuts!”
Have you played as any of Gabe Kunda’s characters? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
