Troy Baker is back in the spotlight, and this time it is not just because of his acting work.
With Mouse: P.I. for Hire out now and the Nintendo Switch 2 port of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle coming next month, the veteran voice actor has been everywhere lately. But one comment from a recent Eurogamer interview got people talking harder: Baker mentioned the possibility of making the kinds of stories he personally wants to tell.
To be clear, he did not announce a studio. He did not say he is quitting acting to become a full-time game developer. Based on Eurogamer’s interview, it sounds more like conversations may be happening, but nothing is confirmed yet.
Still, the internet did what the internet does. People started debating whether one of gaming’s most recognisable actors should jump into development properly. Then Abubakar Salim, best known to gamers as Bayek from Assassin’s Creed Origins, entered the chat with a very simple warning on X: “Don’t do it.”
A joke, but also… not really?
Salim’s reply reads like classic industry gallows humour. Funny on the surface, but you can feel the pain behind it, bro.
He is not just talking from the outside either. Salim founded Surgent Studios, the team behind Tales of Kenzera: Zau and Dead Take. That means he knows the difference between having a cool creative idea and actually shipping a game in an industry that can chew people up.
When another user asked about it, Salim added that it is a “ruthless space atm.” That probably sums up the current games business better than any polished PR statement.
And honestly, Malaysian and SEA readers should pay attention to this part. We often see game development through the glamour: famous actors, trailers, awards, convention panels, collector’s editions. But behind all that, studios are dealing with funding pressure, layoffs, player backlash, Steam reviews, publisher expectations, and the constant risk that a good game still might not sell enough.
For local indie devs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines, that reality is even sharper. Making games here already means fighting for visibility against massive global releases. If even an established actor-founder like Salim is saying the space is brutal, that tells you how tough the mountain really is.
Not everyone says no
The funny bit is, not everyone agreed with Salim’s warning.
John “Bucky” Buckley, Head of Publishing and Comms at Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, responded with the opposite energy: “Do it.”
So yes, the whole exchange has a playful side. One creator says run away, another says jump in. Both are probably right in different ways.
Game development is risky, expensive, emotionally draining, and extremely public. But it is also one of the few spaces where actors, writers, designers, musicians, and artists can build something interactive together. If Baker really does have stories he wants to tell through games, that could be exciting — as long as he knows he is entering hard mode.
Salim is still pushing forward
Despite financial struggles and downsizing at Surgent Studios, the company is still active. Its co-op “extraction platformer” FixForce entered early access last month and, at the time of Eurogamer’s report, had positive Steam reviews.
Salim himself is also still busy outside studio leadership. He has voice work tied to projects like Dying Light: The Beast and the Final Fantasy Tactics remaster, while also appearing in TV shows such as House of the Dragon.
So his message to Baker is not really “never make games.” It feels more like: if you do it, understand what you are signing up for.
For fans in Malaysia and SEA, this is a useful reminder that the people behind our favourite games are not just making cool stuff for fun. The industry is messy, unstable, and punishing — even for big names. If Troy Baker ever does start building his own game project, expect curiosity, hype, and plenty of pressure from day one.
Source: Eurogamer