Original Super Monkey Ball Star Is Axed By SEGA
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is set for worldwide release on October 5, 2021. However, fans are devastated to learn that the iconic resonating voice of the previous Super Monkey Ball games, Brian Matt Uhl, will not be making an appearance.
SEGA, the game's publisher, has instead chosen to replace Uhl with different announcers. It's the end of an era for Super Monkey Ball, with Uhl being a staple of the adorable roller since its inception.
Why Was Brian Uhl Axed From Super Monkey Ball?
Since the first Super Monkey Ball in 2001, Brian Uhl has been telling players to get "Ready" and "Go", as the announcer in the English version of the game, getting players hyped up for Super Monkey Ball's topsy-turvy world. After lending his voice to many additions of the game since then, SEGA has cut ties with the actor. This is most likely due to Uhl's claims of discrimination from SEGA.
In a YouTube video titled 'Dark Side of Sega', Uhl said that time and time again, the Japanese game developer has failed to give any credit to its foreign voice talents. He also accused one of the workers at Sega Sammy Legal of being "very arrogant and very wrong on this subject, both morally and legally."
Uhl originally claimed in a June 2020 Instagram post that he would be involved with Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania. However, in a statement to VGC, a SEGA spokesperson said: "Brian Matt Uhl did not work on Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania and has not been involved with the Super Monkey Ball series for some time".
Could Brian Uhl Be Returning To Monkey Ball?
Sadly, it looks like a rift has been well and truly made between Brian Uhl and SEGA. In the comment section of his Instagram post, Uhl claimed that he was still having "legal issues" with SEGA in regards to announcers not being credited or received royalties for their work.
Despite this, Uhl claimed he was going to continue being an advocate for the rights of foreign voice artists based in Japan. For the time being, it looks like Uhl has been left out in the cold, while Super Monkey Ball will keep on rolling with a new generation. Even if Super Monkey Ball isn't coming to the lineup, you can check out the roster of N64 and SEGA games that will soon be coming to Nintendo Switch.