Overwatch hero Hammond’s voice actor performing live is incredible
Blizzard EntertainmentThe Wrecking Ball voice actors put on a spectacular display of the hero’s voice lines during a panel at BlizzCon.
Wrecking Ball’s “voice” has two components. One is that of Hammond, the mech’s hamster pilot, who can only speak in squeaks, and the other is the mech itself, which has a synthesized voice which translates that into something comprehensible.
Many fans likely assumed that Hammond’s lines were simply synthesized, or at least heavily digitally modified to create a convincing voice for a genetically modified, hyperintelligent hamster. As it turns out, that’s not the case at all.
In fact, Hammond is voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, who apparently doesn’t need any digital help in producing the hamster’s lines.
One of the panels at BlizzCon featured several of the Overwatch voice actors, during which they each read some of their iconic in-game lines. The other heroes represented were McCree and Ashe, stars of “Reunion”, and the Lindholms, Torbjörn and Brigitte.
While each actor did a great job performing their character, it was Baker and Jonathan Lipow, the “Wrecking Ball” component of the hero, who stole the show.
Baker is a voice actor well-known for his talents in not only voicing a variety of different humanoid characters, but also creating voices for animals. His credits include American Dad, Spongebob Squarepants, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars.