The highly anticipated World of Warcraft Patch 11.1, the first major content update for The War Within, has arrived, transporting players to the bustling Goblin city of Undermine.  Here, they collaborate with iconic figures like Monte Gazlowe and Renzik “The Shiv” to thwart Jastor Gallywix’s latest greedy schemes.

However, a significant oversight has emerged, impacting players' immersion and enjoyment of the unfolding narrative.  Renzik “The Shiv,” an SI:7 agent and Gazlowe’s Alliance counterpart in the Undermine(d) storyline, is conspicuously silent.  While a lack of voice acting might be overlooked for minor characters, Renzik engages in frequent dialogue with fully voiced NPCs, resulting in awkward scenes where other characters appear to be talking to themselves. This peculiar absence has been highlighted by many players, including WoWhead contributor and dedicated fan Portergauge.

The update introduces new voice acting for several key characters, including previously unvoiced figures like Cartel leaders Baron Revilgaz and Marin Noggenfogger.  Even newly introduced Goblins, such as Venture Company representatives Grimla Fizzlecrank and Pamsy, have received full voiceovers.  This makes Renzik's silence all the more noticeable and jarring.

Renzik's prominent role in the Undermine(d) campaign further exacerbates the issue. He accompanies players throughout much of the storyline, and in the culminating chapters, his heroic sacrifice (releasing March 4th) inspires Gazlowe to ignite a revolution, leading to the Liberation of Undermine raid.  The absence of a voice actor significantly diminishes the emotional impact of this pivotal moment.

While the reasons behind Renzik's missing voice lines remain unclear, it appears to be a deliberate decision. Throughout his previous appearances in Vanilla, Legion, Battle for Azeroth, and even the preceding Patch 11.0.7 of The War Within, Renzik has relied on generic Goblin click quotes and has never had dedicated voice acting. Even in “Tipping Point,” a short story from the forthcoming World of Warcraft: Crossroads anthology, narration surrounding Renzik's actions was handled by John Behlmann, the voice actor for SI:7 leader Matthias Shaw.  For now, it seems players will have to rely on their imagination to give voice to this pivotal character during the Undermine(d) storyline.