Ben Starr, the acclaimed voice behind Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy 16 and Verso in the sleeper hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has voiced a compelling argument for the gaming industry’s future. Speaking at a panel during Emerald City Comic-Con 2026, the actor advocated for a stronger push toward original intellectual properties, suggesting that while beloved franchises have their place, the market’s health depends on bold new visions. His call to action comes amidst a landscape still dominated by sequels and remakes, even as his own career exemplifies the powerful impact a fresh universe can have. This article delves into Starr’s comments, the context of Clair Obscur‘s success, and the broader implications for an industry at a creative crossroads.
From Final Fantasy to Fresh IP: Starr’s Career Catalyst
Ben Starr’s rise to prominence was catapulted by his role in one of gaming’s most enduring franchises, Final Fantasy. However, it was his subsequent work on the entirely original Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that seems to have solidified his perspective on industry trends. He acknowledges the immense value and personal affection for long-running series—citing his own role and the commercial juggernaut that is Resident Evil 9: Requiem—but positions them as part of a balanced diet. For Starr, the profound creative satisfaction and critical success of building a new world and character like Verso from the ground up represents an irreplaceable thrill and a necessary endeavor for artistic growth.
Why Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Struck a Chord
The industry celebration surrounding Clair Obscur was not without merit. The game distinguished itself not through name recognition, but through the sheer strength of its gripping narrative and a poignantly crafted world. It proved that a well-executed original concept could captivate a global audience and achieve significant commercial success. This breakout hit serves as Starr’s primary evidence that audiences are hungry for new stories, not just iterative improvements on familiar ones. The game’s success story provides a tangible blueprint for developers and publishers wary of the financial risks associated with new IP.
The Emerald City Comic-Con Panel: A Push for Originality
During the 2026 Emerald City Comic-Con panel featuring Starr alongside actors Jennifer English and Aliona Baranova, the conversation turned to the future of game narratives. Starr was unequivocal in his stance. “We should be building new IPs, not always looking back to the past,” he stated. He expanded on this by emphasizing character creation, arguing, “Let’s originate characters… That’s what we should be looking towards.” This sentiment underscores a desire among performers to engage with roles that are not predefined by decades of fan expectation, allowing for a different kind of creative collaboration and ownership from the project’s inception.
The Legacy of Kain Footnote: A Cautionary Tale?
In a fascinating aside, Starr expressed a personal desire to be part of a revival of the Legacy of Kain franchise. Ironically, his comments arrived just as a new title in that series, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, was released to a tepid and largely negative reception. The game’s “Mostly Negative” Steam reviews and its failure to capture the essence of the original series served as an unintended case study. It highlighted the immense challenge and risk of revitalizing dormant IP, where missteps can alienate the core fanbase and fail to attract new players. This incident subtly reinforces Starr’s broader point: if even returning to a classic is fraught with peril, perhaps equal or greater energy should be invested in pristine, original concepts.
The Market Reality: Sequels Versus New Ventures
The commercial dominance of established franchises is an undeniable market reality. Titles like Final Fantasy 16 and Resident Evil 9: Requiem benefit from immense built-in audiences, marketing leverage, and predictable sales trajectories. Publishers often view new IP as a high-risk investment with an uncertain return. However, this strategy carries its own long-term risk: franchise fatigue, creative stagnation, and a homogenized gaming landscape. Starr’s argument taps into a growing concern that an over-reliance on sequels stifles innovation and prevents the industry from cultivating the next generation of iconic worlds that will become the beloved franchises of tomorrow.
The Role of Actors and Creatives in Shaping Trends
Voice actors and performers like Ben Starr are increasingly influential voices in the industry. Their public platforms allow them to advocate for the kinds of projects they believe in, potentially swaying fan interest and developer focus. When a performer of Starr’s caliber openly champions originality and expresses a preference for originating characters, it sends a signal to writers, directors, and studios about where passionate talent wants to work. This creative advocacy can be a catalyst, encouraging publishers to greenlight ambitious new projects that attract top-tier acting talent eager to leave their mark on a fresh canvas.
Building the Future: A Path Forward
The path forward, as illuminated by Starr’s comments, is not about abolishing sequels but about rebalancing the industry’s portfolio. It involves a conscious commitment from major studios to allocate resources, talent, and marketing muscle to original properties with the same vigor applied to franchise entries. It requires cultivating an audience appetite for the new by consistently delivering high-quality original experiences like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The goal is to create an ecosystem where a new IP is not a rare, dangerous gamble, but a regular and celebrated pillar of the release calendar.
Ben Starr’s advocacy for original game IP emerges not from a place of critique toward the franchises that made him famous, but from a genuine passion for the medium’s evolving narrative potential. His experience with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 demonstrated the unique rewards of building something from nothing—a process that benefits actors, developers, and players alike. As the industry moves forward, the challenge will be to heed such calls, ensuring that alongside the next Final Fantasy 17, there is room for the next Clair Obscur, fostering a richer, more diverse, and creatively sustainable future for video games.
