[EXCLUSIVE] Marvel Rivals Actor Gabe Kunda Shares His Journey from Iconic Roles to Becoming Blade

Modern video games transcend simple entertainment, evolving into immersive narrative experiences that connect players emotionally with digital worlds. This profound engagement stems largely from voice actors who breathe life into code and pixels, transforming programmed characters into personalities we genuinely care about and relate to emotionally.

Few performers have mastered this transformation as effectively as Gabe Kunda, whose vocal work resonates across multiple gaming blockbusters. From KAY/O’s distinctive robotic confidence in Valorant to Newcastle’s heroic sincerity in Apex Legends, Kunda consistently demonstrates remarkable ability to inject genuine emotion into synthetic beings.

In Marvel Rivals, Kunda now embodies the legendary Daywalker Blade, representing his most high-profile character portrayal yet. The gaming community eagerly anticipated this addition, scrutinizing every promotional glimpse, and now that Blade has arrived, he’s dominating the competitive landscape with his unique combat style.

This exclusive conversation explores Kunda’s professional evolution, the deeply personal circumstances that shaped his artistic approach, and unexpected professional hurdles—including believing he’d permanently lost the Blade opportunity.

Gabe Kunda has established himself as a respected voice actor within gaming circles, celebrated for animating memorable characters through his distinctive vocal qualities and performance attitude. His most recognizable contributions include KAY/O from Valorant and Newcastle from Apex Legends. Kunda’s popularity among players originates from his exceptional capacity to imbue characters with personal resonance, rendering them more believable and approachable.

Kunda’s interpretation of KAY/O illustrates his inventive methodology toward voice performance. During initial auditions, the character was conceived as a conventional, monotone automaton. However, Kunda detected additional dimensions in the visual design—a persona with weathered authenticity and protective older sibling energy. He deliberately diverged from the standard specifications and submitted his audition with a more casual, composed delivery.

Rishabh: What was your creative process for voicing KAY/O? Given that KAY/O is robotic, the role demands specific tonal techniques to simulate artificial intelligence. How did you approach developing KAY/O’s vocal identity in Valorant?

Gabe: My initial audition recording strictly followed the provided guidelines. Then I reconsidered and decided against submitting that version. I discarded the initial attempt and recorded fresh takes. I thought, I’m going to approach this with more relaxed, protective sibling energy and genuine groundedness.

Fortunately, this creative gamble succeeded, as Riot Games’ writing team applauded his unconventional approach, stating he had enabled them to “discover our character.” This innovative choice fundamentally shaped KAY/O’s popularity within the Valorant community. The character’s fusion of tactical precision with composed, witty personality resonated powerfully with players, establishing him as a community favorite. When questioned about his preferred dialogue line, he answered, “I know what they’re thinking, aimbot.”

Kunda’s portrayal of Newcastle in Apex Legends carries profound personal significance. The session where he recorded dialogue for the courageous, altruistic character occurred just twenty-four hours after his mother’s death. Kunda directed his sorrow and feelings into the performance, contributing significant emotional substance and gravity to Newcastle’s characterization.

He described how Respawn Entertainment’s team proposed rescheduling the recording, but he elected to utilize his work as therapeutic processing, understanding this was something his mother would have encouraged him to complete. The development team even composed specific dialogue honoring his mother, which surprised him completely and created a deeply moving recording session moment.

Rishabh: How did you generate that emotional weight, and did you incorporate personal experiences to enhance depth in your Newcastle vocal performance?

Gabe: Much of the accumulated emotional intensity and narrative seriousness—the complete backstory—was readily accessible for me emotionally… I required something to…immerse myself professionally during difficult periods, and that approach frequently helps me process challenging circumstances.

Securing the Blade role in Marvel Rivals represented a career milestone for Gabe Kunda. The opportunity emerged approximately twelve months prior, but the path to final realization proved extended and unpredictable. Kunda clarified that he auditioned conventionally and, although he “intensely desired” the part, he attempted to maintain realistic expectations, aware that numerous competing performers likely auditioned simultaneously.

The realization of his aspiration bordered on surreal; merely seven days before his audition, an attendee at a gaming convention inquired which Marvel superhero he would prefer to portray, and he immediately answered Blade.

Rishabh: How did you respond upon receiving the confirmation?

Gabe: The news seemed unbelievable… [They Inquired] Which Marvel character would you ideally want to perform? I responded, naturally, I would be thrilled to attempt voicing Blade. It would represent an incredible professional opportunity. I auditioned approximately one week later, and the subsequent week, I received confirmation that they selected me.

Nevertheless, the subsequent period following his casting contained substantial uncertainty. Kunda disclosed that he experienced months without recording sessions and started fearing replacement. He observed promotional materials featuring Blade’s aggressive vocalizations and questioned who had performed those lines.

Recording commencement didn’t occur until June 2025. This extended delay created considerable professional anxiety, and he humorously remarked that NetEase developers nearly “digitally vanished” on him.

Rishabh: What challenges did you encounter maintaining confidentiality? Or were you previously informed about the strategic narrative planning surrounding Blade’s backstory?

Gabe: I possessed zero information… I began noticing social media discussions regarding leaked information about Blade’s introduction. I thought, Wait, how is Blade appearing? I haven’t recorded any dialogue yet. How is this development occurring? [Subsequently] I contacted the development team. I asked, How long did you plan to conceal this development?

Despite the prolonged anticipation, Kunda’s Blade interpretation has received exceptional fan acclaim. The Marvel Rivals community erupted with excitement upon hearing his vocal performance in the game’s trailer. They immediately identified his distinctive voice and celebrated his performance excellence.

Kunda credits his Blade characterization to an intention to provide the hero with more complexity than a “monochromatic serious” personality. He aimed to demonstrate a more composed, controlled, and “relaxed” dimension to the Daywalker, highlighting that, given extensive experience, Blade possesses little need for validation. “Rather than creating him as somewhat single-dimensional and excessively serious—since other characters already fulfill that archetype, like Wolverine—I pursued the contrasting direction,” Kunda elaborated.

He intended to emphasize Blade’s atmospheric presence and display his intelligence and individuality through character interactions. Kunda references exchanges Blade shares with Luna and his discussions about music preferences and curated playlists, unveiling a more vulnerable aspect. He also mentions an instance where Blade acknowledges Psylocke’s costume design.

These nuanced exchanges, Kunda clarifies, demonstrate that “he’s not completely emotionless” and that there exist “instances where you observe glimpses of humanity emerging from this Daywalker.” Kunda maintains these subtleties render the character more sophisticated and compelling for players.

Community members especially celebrate the character’s special ability, which strongly resembles Vergil’s technique from Devil May Cry. Kunda himself felt astonished when developers displayed the animation during recording, reacting enthusiastically and informing them, “You’re attempting to cause digital infrastructure collapse.” When requested to perform the ultimate ability line, he energetically exclaimed, “A thousand cuts!”

Have you experienced any of Gabe Kunda’s character portrayals? Which performance resonates most strongly with you? Share your perspectives in the commentary section below!

Professional voice acting requires mastering multiple technical disciplines while maintaining creative flexibility. Successful performers often develop signature approaches to character analysis, frequently drawing from personal emotional reservoirs to enhance authenticity. Understanding character motivations, backstory implications, and relationship dynamics forms the foundation of compelling vocal performances that resonate with gaming audiences.

For aspiring voice actors, Kunda’s career demonstrates several critical success factors: the courage to interpret characters uniquely, the resilience to navigate industry uncertainties, and the emotional intelligence to channel personal experiences into professional artistry. These elements combined create the memorable character experiences that define modern gaming narratives.

Industry professionals recommend developing vocal range through consistent practice, studying character archetypes across media, and building professional networks through convention attendance and industry events.

No reproduction without permission：Tsp Game Club » [EXCLUSIVE] Marvel Rivals Actor Gabe Kunda Shares His Journey from Iconic Roles to Becoming Blade Discover how Gabe Kunda's unique voice acting approach transformed gaming icons KAY/O, Newcastle, and Blade with emotional depth