TLDR
- SAG-AFTRA video game actors began striking on July 26, 2024 over disagreements about AI protections in their contracts.
- The main issue is which types of performers (voice actors, motion capture actors, etc.) would be covered by AI protections.
- Game companies say they’ve offered meaningful AI protections, but the union says the proposals have too many exceptions.
- This strike affects major game publishers like Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Warner Bros. Games.
- The previous SAG-AFTRA video game strike in 2016 lasted 11 months.
Video game actors represented by SAG-AFTRA began a strike on July 26, 2024, after negotiations with video game publishers broke down.
The main issue causing the strike is disagreement over protections against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in video game production.
SAG-AFTRA represents about 160,000 actors and performers across the entertainment industry. The union has been in talks with video game companies since October 2022 about a new contract for interactive media work. While they agreed on many issues, AI protections became a major sticking point.
Ray Rodriguez, SAG-AFTRA’s Chief Contract Officer, explained that game companies initially only wanted to offer AI protections to voice actors, not other performers like stunt or motion capture actors.
The companies later expanded their offer, but with conditions the union found unacceptable.
“For example, in order to qualify for the protection that’s being offered, a digital replica of a performer must be identifiable as that performer,”
Rodriguez said.
He pointed out that this wouldn’t cover many video game performances where actors’ likenesses aren’t used directly.
Effective July 26 at 12:01 a.m. Today’s vote to strike comes after more than a year and a half of negotiations without a deal.#VideoGameStrike #LevelUpTheContract #SagAftraStrong https://t.co/8InNdB05k8
— SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra) July 25, 2024
The strike affects major publishers including Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Warner Bros. Games. However, some games already in production may not be impacted due to existing agreements.
The video game companies say they have offered strong AI protections in line with industry standards. A spokesperson for the game producers stated,
“Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers.”
Union members see the AI issue as crucial to their livelihoods and the integrity of their work. Andi Norris, part of SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating team, said the companies’ proposal
“would leave movement specialists, including stunts, entirely out in the cold, to be replaced… by soulless synthetic performers trained on our actual performances.”
This isn’t the first time video game actors have gone on strike. In 2016, SAG-AFTRA members struck for 11 months, eventually winning better pay rates and improved safety measures.
Both sides say they are open to returning to negotiations. “We’re absolutely open to that. We’re ready, willing, and able to continue bargaining here, and I hope it will happen sooner rather than later,” Rodriguez said.
As the strike continues, its impact on game development remains to be seen. Some games may be exempt due to prior agreements, but new projects could face delays if the strike is prolonged. The outcome of this dispute could set important precedents for how AI is used in the video game industry going forward.
