Why did they change all the voice actors?

[T2teddy]

They're all the same as before.

Ser Aymeric is the same, Lucia is the same, Tataru = same and Haurchefant may be the same. Ilberd sounds bloody ridiculous with some kind of heavy accent. Alphinaud's voice is a completely higher pitch as is Urianger's.

[Silver-dream]

so far all voices I like apart from one...Merlywb, she sound way to lady like it just doesn't fit.

[Pandalink]

Merlwyb's new voice is pretty laughable, like the old voice wasn't really that good, but at least it sounded unique and had a little gravitas. They also spoiled Raubahn's voice a bit, it was excellent before (although the new one isn't inherently bad). Same with Ilberd, but his new one's pretty silly sounding.

I think the worst change is Alphinaud. Whereas before we had Sam Riegel doing a really fitting voice that had some air of intelligence and even a little authority, the new voice just sounds like a stuck-up petulant child to the point that I hate any cutscene he's in and I hope they kill him off. The part where he reacts to the thugs in the brume with that totally posh accent is ridiculous. Totally killed the character, what a shame.

Most of the actual new characters are cast really well though. Aymeric's voice is still the best thing I've heard all year.
I understand that a lot of the VA sucked in ARR, but there was no need for such a huge recast. Most of the old characters might as well be dead for all the familiarity they lost.

[Rynia]

ITT: people who can't tell the difference between different British accents and due to them not being RP English, think they're bad/stupid.

This makes for hysterical reading. I like most of the new actors, they're actual British people rather than Americans pretending to be British in the most cringey way!

(FYI, Raubahn/Ilberd are in no way Scottish, nor is Merlwyb "posh".)

[Domira]

I think the new english voice actors are way better than the old ones.

[VirusChris]

It's a mixed bag for me, I like the old voices but some of the new voice actors are OK.

[Verdan]

I guess some contracts got changed, but it's always weird when someone you knew for a while suddenly sounds different. We react as though they are a different person, which makes a whole lot of sense; a lot of the familiarity is gone.

[Nixxe]

I like Midgardsormr's new voice a lot more now. To me, it doesn't sound like he has throat cancer or something now. I know he was supposed to sound old, but his old voice was just... too much, imho.

That's the only one I think is an improvement. Even then, I didn't dislike the old one; I just hated that he. talked. like. this. It was so drawn out.

[Twilite]

Aymeric's voice is still the best thing I've heard all year.

Because his VA has not changed. Neither did Yugiri's.

[SummonerSenah]

I got to Bigs and Wedge and decided just to change to Japanese voice acting.