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David Hayter has commented on not being asked to reprise his role as Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain finally officially announced last week , many fans noticed that Hayter’s trademark voice was not included, and the actor has now taken to Twitter to explain why.

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“I have been up in Toronto, for the past eight months, directing my first film,” Hayter explained. “On the December break, I came home to Los Angeles for the holidays. I heard then, that recording sessions for MG:V were being put together. But I didn’t hear anything about whether I’d be needed or not. So, I got in touch with someone involved in the production. We got together for lunch, and he told me that they ‘wouldn’t be needing me’ on this game. No reason, or explanation was given beyond that. And that was it.”Hayter looked back on the series and explained some of his fondest memories, saying goodbye and thanking fans for the experience.“It’s been fifteen years, nine games, and an enormous blast to undertake,” he wrote. “If it were my choice, I would do this role forever. To hear anyone else’s voice coming from Snake’s battered throat, makes me a little ill, to be honest. But the truth is -- it’s not my choice. Any and all casting decisions are the sole purview of Hideo Kojima, and Konami itself. And that’s fair. And I’ll get by. I am not lacking for employment on any level. But I didn’t want anybody to think that I was intentionally abandoning them. And know that I will miss this job, and this character, very much.”For more from Hayter, you can read his full statement

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.