SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors, voice actors, and other performers in the entertainment industry, has announced a strike as of today, 26 July 2024, targeted at the video game sector. This move highlights ongoing concerns regarding the potential impact of AI and technology on performers’ roles.
Video games, which generate substantial revenue and cultural impact, rely heavily on the talents of voice actors and motion capture artists. These performers bring characters to life, adding emotional depth and authenticity to gaming experiences.
Key issues driving the strike include stricter regulations around the use of AI and motion capture technology. The use of AI in video games is a critical point of contention. With advancements in technology, there is a growing capability to replicate performers’ voices and movements digitally. SAG-AFTRA members are advocating for stronger protections to ensure that AI-generated content does not replace human performers or exploit their likenesses without fair compensation.
The vote to strike came after more than a year and a half of unsuccessful negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and various companies within the video game industry.
According to an announcement by SAG-AFTRA, the employers within the industry “refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their A.I. language.”
“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate,” stated SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher.
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland reinforced this saying:
“The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profit annually. The driving force behind that success is the creative people who design and create those games. That includes the SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life, and they deserve and demand the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies.”
He went on to say: “Our members can and will stand up and demand fair and equitable treatment with respect to A.I., and the public supports us in that.”
The VoiceOver Network stands in support of the decision to strike and wants to offer some helpful information and advice for our fellow voice actors.
Any game looking to employ SAG-AFTRA talent to perform covered work must sign on to the new Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement. These agreements offer critical A.I. protections for members.
According to SAG-AFTRA, the convenience bargaining group with whom it is negotiating includes Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.
Certain interactive programs, however, are not within the scope of the Strike Order. There also are interactive programs approved for an Interim Interactive Media Agreement or Interim Interactive Localization Agreement, or signed to a Tiered-Budget Independent Agreement that are not struck and members are encouraged to work these programs during the strike.
To find out the status of a game, and whether it is within the scope of the Strike Order, enter the Production ID and/or the full code name into the search tool here.
If you are searching using a code name only, you should verify the search result by reaching out to videogamestrike@sagaftra.org.
More information can be found at sagaftra.org/videogamestrike.
