The new Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown game comes out next week. And now we finally know it will feature the voices of two original actors from the Voyager TV series. And not only will Tim Russ and Robert Duncan McNeill be reprising their roles as Tuvok and Tom Paris, respectively, but Voyager‘s main theme will also feature in the upcoming sci-fi simulator. Moreover, those wanting to see how Across the Universe will perform on the recently released Switch 2 will be able to do so thanks to a demo that becomes available today.

Tuvok, Paris… and Goldsmith

News of Russ and McNeill’s inclusion into the title – something that fans have been clamoring for ever since playing Across the Unknown‘s PC via Steam demo back in October — came by way of an interview with gamExcite’s Daniel Bernard, telling Nintendo Life:

“Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown will feature fully voiced logs by Tuvok and Tom Paris at the start of each sector. It was important to us to bring back the original actors in a way that felt meaningful. These logs recap recent events and set the stage for the mission ahead. The characters are voiced by their original actors, Tim Russ and Robert Duncan McNeill.”

Tim Russ won’t be voicing a line like this, but will be voicing logs at the beginning of each sector (gamExcite, Daedalic).

Fans who were asking for the voice acting talents of Voyager‘s cast were equally as vocal about the lack of Voyager‘s main theme in the upcoming game. Thankfully, gamExcite has also confirmed that our ears will be graced with that iconic and familiar tune, scored by the legendary Jerry Goldsmith. “Finally, we are also including the main theme from the show for the full release of the game,” Bernard also confirmed with Nintendo Life.

Hopefully, the inclusion of the theme, coupled with the voice talents of Tim Russ and Robert Duncan McNeill, will provide a further sense of immersion that players of its demo have been calling for.

Screencap from Across the Unknown (gamExcite, Daedalic).

Switch 2 demo available now

Finally, the Across the Unknown demo for he Nintendo Switch 2 was released today. You can grab it here: Switch 2 via the Nintendo eShop.

The demo, of course, is already available on Windows PC via Steam, Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, and PS5. Links to the various demos are as follows:

The demo allows players the chance to play through the game’s entire first sector, recapping the events of the Voyager episode, “Caretaker.” Progress will not carry over into the full game proper, so you’ll essentially be replaying that sector if you decide to purchase the game.

In terms of presentation, we don’t yet know exactly how Russ and McNeill will feature, though the game’s demo, showcased below if you haven’t seen it, does give us an unvoiced captain’s log accompanied by visuals of a shuttlecraft travelling towards Voyager and Deep Space Nine. If we don’t get cutscenes featuring Tuvok and Paris, hopefully we get some lovely beauty shots of the Interpid-class starship instead.

While the news of Tim Russ and Robert Duncan McNeill lending their voices to the game is quite welcome, many fans might have been hoping for full voice acting by Voyager‘s entire cast. But bear in mind that  Across the Unknown is priced at around $36, so they don’t have the same kind of budget you would expect for a AAA game (which would come with a AAA $70 price tag). But if you really want a fully voiced game, there’s always Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force.

Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown is planned for a February 18 release date across a variety of platforms including Windows PC via Steam, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2. For more about it, visit stvatu.com.

Steve Wright is a long-time Trek fan, an experienced Australian-based games journalist, and the editor-in-chief of Stevivor.com, the country’s leading independent video games site.

Check out all of our Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown coverage here.