He was the face of the game. Literally. If you played High on Life back when it dropped in 2022, you couldn't escape Kenny. He was that chatterbox blue pistol that sounded exactly like Morty from Rick and Morty. He was your first friend, your primary weapon, and the source of about 70% of the game’s dialogue. Then, the DLC High on Knife showed up, and Kenny was just... gone.
It’s weird. Most games don’t just delete their protagonist's primary companion between chapters. Usually, there’s a big heroic sacrifice or a plot twist that justifies it. But with Kenny, the reality is a messy mix of real-world legal drama and a very blunt in-game explanation that basically calls the player a "butterfingers."
What Actually Happened to Kenny?
If you jump into the High on Knife expansion, you’ll notice a new Gatlian named Harper taking up the pistol slot. She’s great—voiced by Sarah Sherman—but she isn't Kenny. So, where’d he go?
The game handles this with the kind of cynical, meta-humor the studio is known for. According to Gene Zaroothian (your mentor), you basically dropped him. Seriously. The "official" lore is that during the two-year gap between the main game and the DLC, the Bounty Hunter was clumsy and lost Kenny. Gene even cracks a joke about how you're "not part of the family anymore" and should go "drop this knife where you dropped Kenny."
It’s a cold way to write off a character who helped you take down the G3 Cartel.
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The real reason is much heavier. Justin Roiland, the co-founder of Squanch Games and the voice of Kenny, was hit with serious legal allegations in early 2023. While the domestic violence charges were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence, the fallout was immediate. Adult Swim cut ties, and Squanch Games followed suit. Roiland resigned from the studio he helped build.
Since Kenny’s entire identity was tied to Roiland’s specific voice and improvisational style, the developers clearly decided it was easier to "lose" the character than to recast him. They chose a clean break.
Kenny’s Role in the Original High on Life
Before he became a "missing person" in the DLC, Kenny was the backbone of the gameplay. He’s a Gatlian, a sentient species that the G3 Cartel was using as weapons. You find him early on during the initial invasion of Earth, and he’s the one who explains how the universe works.
His kit was basic but essential:
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- Primary Fire: Standard semi-auto shots.
- The Glob Shot: His "trick hole" ability. It launches a disgusting green glob that bounces enemies into the air for juggling.
- Traversal: That same Glob Shot is used to flip platforms and solve puzzles throughout the game.
Honestly, Kenny wasn't the strongest gun in the late game. Once you get Gus (the shotgun) or Sweezy (the needle gun), Kenny often sits in the holster. But he was the narrator. He commented on every bounty, every weird alien you met, and even your sister’s dating life. Losing him changed the entire "vibe" of the game.
The Gatlus Secret
One thing people often forget about Kenny is that he isn't exactly a saint. Mid-way through the story, you find out that Kenny actually played a role in the destruction of his home planet, Gatlus. He tried to be a hero, but he ended up leading the G3 right to his people.
That guilt is what drives most of his "helpful" behavior. He’s a screw-up trying to make amends, which makes the fact that the player "dropped him" in the DLC feel even more tragic. He finally found a partner, and then he was just... left in some alien gutter.
Can You Still Play With Kenny in 2026?
Yes, but only in the base game. If you’re booting up High on Life today on Game Pass or PlayStation, Kenny is still there for the main campaign. Squanch Games didn't pull an "update" to remove him from the original experience or anything like that.
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However, if you move on to the DLC or any of the newer content, you have to get used to Harper. She’s a different kind of Gatlian—more aggressive, less "neurotic Morty." Some fans actually prefer her because she doesn't talk quite as much during combat, but if you grew up on Roiland’s brand of humor, the silence where Kenny used to be feels pretty loud.
Best Upgrades for Kenny (If You're Rewatching/Replaying)
If you are going back through the main story, don't ignore Kenny’s upgrades just because he’s the "starter" gun.
- The Bounceflector Mod: This makes his shots ricochet off enemies you're juggling. It turns him from a basic pistol into a crowd-control machine.
- Glob Kidney: This is a must-buy at Mr. Keeps’ Pawnshop. It reduces the cooldown on his Glob Shot, which you'll need for almost every platforming section in the game.
- Muscle Implant: Simple damage buff. It keeps him viable when you're fighting the Skrendel Bros later on.
The Future of Gatlians
There have been rumors and "leak" jokes in the game files about a High on Life 2 or more DLC set in New Orleans (thanks to a weird 8-ball item description in the DLC). If a sequel happens, it's highly unlikely Kenny returns. Recasting is possible—Rick and Morty did it successfully with Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden—but Squanch Games seems to want to move into a new era.
Kenny was a product of a specific time and a specific creator. Now, he’s just a piece of gaming history—a talking gun that we "accidentally" dropped on the way to the next bounty.
If you're looking to maximize your current run, make sure you've found all the Luglox chests in Blim City before leaving for the DLC; you'll need those Pesos to afford the upgrades that make the newer weapons actually feel as "complete" as Kenny did. Make sure to check the Bounty Forum regularly, as some of the character interactions change based on which gun you're holding when you turn in a kill.