How to Become a Video Game Voice Actor With Watch Dogs 2’s Shawn Baichoo The dream usually starts the same way. A favorite game. A memorable character. […]

How to Become a Video Game Voice Actor With Watch Dogs 2’s Shawn Baichoo

The dream usually starts the same way.

A favorite game. A memorable character. A line of dialogue that somehow sticks around years after the credits roll.

For a growing number of aspiring performers, that dream eventually becomes a question: How do you become the person behind those characters?

The answer is more complicated than buying a microphone and uploading a demo reel.

According to Shawn Baichoo, the actor best known to many players as Wrench in Watch Dogs 2, the path into video game performance has less to do with voices and far more to do with acting.

That distinction matters because the games industry has changed dramatically over the past decade. Video games are no longer a niche entertainment medium competing for attention. They are one of the largest forms of entertainment in the world, capable of creating fan communities that rival those surrounding blockbuster films, television series, and professional sports.

For performers, that means the relationship between actor and audience is often much more direct than it once was.

Baichoo has experienced that firsthand.

“Something that I find to be kind of an awesome side effect of social media, is being so directly in contact with the fans all the time is that there’s, like, this feedback loop that happens,” he said during our interview.

That feedback loop has become one of gaming’s defining characteristics. Unlike traditional media, players can spend dozens or even hundreds of hours with a character. They discuss storylines online, create fan art, write theories, and sometimes develop deeply personal connections with the worlds they inhabit.

For actors entering the industry, understanding that relationship is almost as important as understanding the performance itself.

The Real Path to Becoming a Video Game Voice Performer

The biggest misconception about video game voice acting is embedded in the name itself.

Many aspiring performers focus on the “voice” part. Baichoo believes they should focus on the “actor” part.

“I often find there’s this fallacy that’s kind of very omnipresent. How do we become a voice actor? And their emphasis is on voice when it should be on actor.”

That philosophy serves as a useful starting point for anyone looking to break into the industry.

Step 1: Learn Acting Before Specializing

Video game performance is acting first and technical execution second.

Whether you’re performing in a recording booth, on a motion-capture stage, or in front of a camera, the core skill remains the same: creating believable characters.

As Baichoo explained:

“Voice acting is one of the things you can do as an actor.

That means aspiring performers should consider:

• Acting classes
• Theatre training
• Improvisation workshops
• Scene study programs
• On-camera performance training

Many of the skills developed in those environments eventually transfer directly into game performance.

Step 2: Build a Foundation Through Practice

Professional performers rarely develop their craft in isolation.

Theatre remains one of the most valuable training grounds because it forces actors to work consistently, collaborate with others, and develop emotional range.

Baichoo repeatedly emphasized how different disciplines contribute to performance development.

“You know, all these classes, we take improv…” he recalled while describing his early training. What seemed unnecessary as a student later became essential professional tools.

The lesson is straightforward: every performance skill compounds over time.

Step 3: Invest in Basic Home Recording Equipment

While acting ability remains the most important factor, modern performers should still be prepared to record auditions remotely.

A basic starter setup typically includes:

• A quality USB or XLR microphone
• Closed-back headphones
• Acoustic treatment or sound dampening
• Audio recording software
• A quiet recording space

The equipment does not need to be expensive. Casting directors are generally more interested in performance quality than expensive hardware.

Step 4: Seek Mentorship

One of the most overlooked career advantages is learning from people already doing the job. Baichoo credits mentorship as one of the most important factors in his early career development.

“These actors would come in, working actors. We would talk to them about their experience and they would give us wisdom and insight.”
That support extended beyond performance advice.

Mentors helped answer questions about agents, résumés, auditions, networking, and the realities of building a sustainable career.

Step 5: Stay Ready for Opportunities

Success in games often comes from a combination of preparation and timing.

Baichoo’s own career in gaming emerged from a mixture of skill sets that happened to align with industry needs.

“I’m a martial artist. I’m a huge gamer. I know the medium.”

When motion-capture opportunities expanded, he was already equipped with skills that made him a natural fit.

The lesson for aspiring actors is simple: keep developing your strengths because opportunities rarely arrive on a predictable schedule.

Shawn Baichoo’s Career Lessons From Inside the Industry


For aspiring video game performers, Shawn Baichoo’s career offers a useful reminder that success rarely arrives all at once. While many actors dream of landing a breakout role that instantly changes their lives, the reality is often much slower and far less glamorous. Careers are typically built one audition, one performance, and one opportunity at a time.

Looking back on his early years, Baichoo remembers setting goals that were far more modest than becoming the voice behind one of gaming’s most recognizable characters. At the time, he wasn’t focused on fame or major franchises. He simply wanted proof that a professional acting career was possible.

“Let me just book one job,” he recalled thinking. “Let me get that proof I can do this.”

That mindset is particularly valuable for aspiring voice performers because the path into games can often feel overwhelming.

Newcomers frequently compare themselves to established actors who have spent years, or even decades, building their careers. What Baichoo’s story demonstrates is that every performer starts somewhere. The first goal isn’t becoming the next iconic video game character. The first goal is getting experience, learning the craft, and proving to yourself that you belong in the room.

One of the most consistent themes throughout our conversation was the importance of patience. Acting is a profession where growth is often difficult to measure in real time. Auditions may not lead to immediate results. Training can feel repetitive. Progress can seem invisible for months or even years. Yet Baichoo explained that confidence eventually comes from accumulating experience and learning how to navigate the profession’s inevitable challenges.

“It did get easier because I became more experienced.”

That observation may sound simple, but it highlights an important truth about becoming a video game performer. There is no shortcut around experience. Every acting class, every improv session, every community theatre production, every self-tape audition, and every recording session contributes to the foundation performers rely on later in their careers. Confidence isn’t something actors discover. It’s something they build.

Baichoo’s journey also highlights another lesson that aspiring performers should understand before entering the industry: creative careers are constantly evolving. While the video game industry has become one of the largest entertainment sectors in the world, it is also subject to the same economic pressures and production challenges that affect film and television. Studios expand and contract. Projects are greenlit and cancelled. Entire development strategies can change with little warning.

During our interview, Baichoo spoke candidly about recent challenges facing performers, particularly in motion capture and game development. Several projects that appeared promising never ultimately reached completion, despite significant work already being invested. In an industry that often looks glamorous from the outside, those realities can come as a surprise to newcomers.

Yet rather than viewing that uncertainty as a reason to avoid the profession, Baichoo’s career demonstrates why adaptability is one of the most valuable skills an actor can develop. The performers who sustain long careers are often the ones willing to continue learning, embrace new opportunities, and expand their skill sets as the industry changes around them.

For anyone wondering how to become a video game voice performer, that may be the most important takeaway from Baichoo’s experience. Success is not about eliminating uncertainty or waiting for the perfect opportunity. It’s about developing the skills, resilience, and professionalism necessary to navigate an industry where change is constant. Talent opens doors, but persistence is often what keeps them open.

Why Fan Connections Matter More Than Ever

If there’s one thing that separates video game performance from many other forms of acting, it’s the unique relationship that develops between players and the characters they spend hours alongside. Unlike a two-hour film or a television episode that comes and goes, video games often place players in a world for dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of hours. Over time, those characters can become far more than fictional creations. They become companions, inspirations, and, in some cases, deeply personal symbols for the people experiencing their stories.

That was one of the recurring themes throughout our conversation with Shawn Baichoo. While Wrench became one of the most recognizable characters in Watch Dogs 2, the role ultimately took on a life of its own once it reached players. What surprised Baichoo wasn’t simply the popularity of the character, but the ways fans connected with him long after the game’s release.

“So many people who are fans of the game in that community, in the LGBTQ+ community, took him and kind of made it their own,” Baichoo explained.

For aspiring voice performers, that’s an important lesson because it highlights something that acting classes and recording booths don’t always prepare you for. Once a game is released, the audience becomes part of the conversation. Players interpret characters through their own experiences, backgrounds, and identities. Sometimes those interpretations align perfectly with the creators’ intentions. Other times they evolve into something entirely unexpected.

In an industry built on storytelling, that connection remains the ultimate goal. A great performance can entertain players for a few hours. A meaningful one can stay with them for years.