HELLOOOOO TRAVELER! It is I, CL4P-TRP and welcome to…my voice, why does my voice sound so different? WHO CHANGED MY VOICE BOX? I BLAME STAIRS!
If you tuned into last week’s stream of Borderlands 3 looking for some fresh new gameplay, then you were probably drenched in new Pandoran features. Bigger guns, a massively revamped character system and a big new hub zone to explore as you hopped around the galaxy were just some of the highlights. Amidst all that, Gearbox showed off a game that was comfortably familiar in its setup. Loot, shoot and repeat the process as your hunger for shiny new guns racks up a body count on par with that of a small nuclear war.
Heck, Borderlands 3 even begins in a way that’ll be instantly familiar to anyone who played any of the previous games. You’re a new vault hunter in town, a charismatic threat has popped up and series icon Claptrap is there to greet you. Only this time, his distinctive voice sounds kind of…off. What gives? For Borderlands 3, Clappy’s regular voice actor David Eddings has been replaced entirely.
Why? According to Eddings, Gearbox didn’t want to pony up the cash to hire him back for the role:
According to Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, Eddings was made an offer to return, but he turned it down:
So what’s the truth in all of this? It’s probably a little bit more complicated, as Eddings voiced Claptrap during his original tenure at Gearbox, eventually leaving the company in March of 2017 so that he could work for Rooster Teeth. How much Eddings was paid during his Gearbox days is a matter that’s between him and the studio. For Borderlands 3, Claptrap’s role is filled in by Jim Foronda, and while he does sound alright he just doesn’t have that spark of silliness that Eddings had in the role.
In fact, do yourself a favour and grab the Pre-Sequel next time it’s on sale, just so that you can play the fantastic Claptastic Voyage. Much like Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep is the definitive slice of Borderlands 2 action, Claptastic Voyage does the same for the Pre-Sequel, reworking numerous ideas and characters into a stunning and meaty adventure.
An adventure that features Edding’s Claptrap at his best, worst and most heroic:
Borderlands 3 is out on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 13.
Last Updated: May 6, 2019
Se7en Sharon Needles
May 6, 2019 at 11:02
Randy is a scummy, slimy and grimy individual so I’m more inclined to believe David Eddings.
Pariah
May 6, 2019 at 11:03
It’s more likely that David wanted too much, Randy offered too little, and neither of them budged to negotiate something more reasonable for both of them.
Se7en Sharon Needles
May 7, 2019 at 19:01
If only that was true.
Eddings recently alleged that Randy assaulted him, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are other rumours about Pitchford that will leave you shocked. The guy is a scumbag.
Pariah
May 7, 2019 at 19:58
Listen I don’t think anyone will dispute just how much of a scumbag Randy is, there’s no question there. I just think there’s a lot of stink thrown here and I worry that emotions are high on both sides and parts of the story are being distorted from both sides. For all we know, the “assault” could’ve been a push away during a confrontation that David initiated. We don’t know the facts at all, so calling a side isn’t prudent. Again, there’s no question Randy is a P.O.S., but I rather not jump to conclusions based on a he-said-she-said.
PoisonedBelial
May 6, 2019 at 07:54
Hopefully that means Claptrap will be less god damn annoying…
The D
May 6, 2019 at 08:08
YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH CLAPTRAP IS AWESOME
PoisonedBelial
May 6, 2019 at 08:40
xD
I’d rather eat Cheesecake than listen to Claptrap…
Admiral Chief Flammenwerfer
May 6, 2019 at 09:13
Does @monstercheddar:disqus know this?
darkmech1
May 6, 2019 at 11:11
Well cheesecake is amazing and Claptrap was hilarious
PoisonedBelial
May 6, 2019 at 08:40
xD
I’d rather eat Cheesecake than listen to Claptrap…
Matthew Holliday
May 6, 2019 at 09:42
The opposite, when I watched the stream I thought the new claptrap voice was atleast twice as annoying as befor.
Befor it was light hearted and fun, now I want to murder him.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 6, 2019 at 08:19
So not even Claptrap is coming to his pizza party.
Admiral Chief Flammenwerfer
May 6, 2019 at 09:13
I guess he couldn’t get past the stairs
HairyEwok
May 6, 2019 at 09:54
ZING!