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SAG-AFTRA members who work in video games have voted to strike due to concerns about AI, after more than a year and a half of unfruitful negotiations regarding the Interactive Media Agreement–a contract that many major gaming companies must stick to when creating big-budget games. The strike will go into effect at 12:01 AM PT on July 26.
“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,” reads the press release announcing the strike. “These agreements offer critical AI protections for members.”
Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI is unaffected by the strike, as are live-service titles and any game that was already in production as of September 2023.
SAG-AFTRA has been struggling to come to an agreement on AI usage in game development for months–specifically the use of AI in place of human voice actors and motion-capture performers. In January, SAG-AFTRA signed a controversial agreement with AI voice software company Replica Studios. The agreement, which essentially approved AI voice acting in video games, was criticized by voice actors, many of whom claimed they were never consulted about the agreement.
The convenience bargaining group SAG-AFTRA is currently negotiating with includes the following gaming studios:
Activision Productions Inc.Blindlight LLCDisney Character Voices Inc.Electronic Arts Productions Inc.Formosa Interactive LLCInsomniac Games Inc.Llama Productions LLCTake 2 Productions Inc.VoiceWorks Productions Inc.WB Games Inc.
It’s not immediately clear which games will be affected by the strike, but delays would be more likely to happen for games that are still in early in development, rather than anything close to launch. There’s no telling how long the strike itself will last.
EA has already voiced support for the use of AI in its games, Ubisoft is experimenting with AI NPCs that can have “real conversations,” and the devs behind The Finals have also defended its use of AI voice-acting. Other entities in the gaming industry have taken a stand against AI, with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney stating, “Game companies shouldn’t receive generative AI voice training rights on dialog recording sessions,” and Valve requiring developers to disclose the use of AI in any games they list on Steam.
“Eighteen months of negotiations have shown us that our employers are not interested in fair, reasonable AI protections, but rather flagrant exploitation,” Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh said of the strike. “We refuse this paradigm–we will not leave any of our members behind, nor will we wait for sufficient protection any longer. We look forward to collaborating with teams on our Interim and Independent contracts, which provide AI transparency, consent and compensation to all performers, and to continuing to negotiate in good faith with this bargaining group when they are ready to join us in the world we all deserve.”
SAG-AFTRA members working in film and television previously went on strike in 2023, with the use of AI being one of the biggest issues in the negotiations.
“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members,” added SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “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.”
Gaming studios have already responded to the strike, voicing disappointment with SAG-AFTRA’s decision.
“We are disappointed the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations,” said Audrey Cooling, the IMA spokesperson for the video game producers party. “We have already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions. 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 working under the IMA. These terms are among the strongest in the entertainment industry.”
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