GTA 6 Exempt from Voice Actor Strike, Raising Concerns and Questions

Actor's union 'not happy' about GTA 6 strike exemption, but confirms it's in a contract: 'Insane, but it's there'

The SAG-AFTRA strike technically only applies to recently-started projects. Videogame actors are on strike: The approximately 160,000-member SAG-AFTRA union says that major game makers have refused to include sufficient protections against generative AI in their contracts. The game makers disagree, and for now, the parties are at an impasse. The strike means that union actors will not work on new games in production at a number of major studios until they can agree on a new contract. Take-Two Interactive, parent company of Rockstar, is one of the game makers being struck, but Grand Theft Auto 6 -- a game we expect to feature many gigs worth of dialogue -- may not be slowed down as a result. GTA 6 is exempt from the strike, because it doesn't affect games that started production over a year ago, according to statements from the union and the game makers, which were acquired by Kotaku. In an FAQ, SAG-AFTRA explains that "some companies have games that cannot be struck due to certain contract terms" and so "it is easier to think about the strike in terms of struck games as opposed to struck companies." In a report on Aftermath, SAG-AFTRA chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez said that the union is "obviously not happy about" the GTA 6 exemption, but affirmed that the rule exists, saying it was "bargained into" a legacy agreement created before the SAG and AFTRA unions merged. "It's language that the merged union basically inherited, that I think is insane," said Rodriguez. "But it's there." The union's FAQ notes, however, that "although members will not be disciplined for working these games, they may still choose to stand in solidarity with their fellow members by refusing to cross a picket line for these games, and their employer is contractually prohibited from discriminating against them for this choice." In other words, actors who are invited to work on games that aren't struck, but come from companies that are -- GTA 6 would qualify -- may choose to turn the offers down. That could include actors who previously did work for the games under daily contracts and are being asked to sign new ones. The goal of the strike is to formalize "fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the AI use of [actor's] faces, voices, and bodies," said SAG-AFTRA national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland in a statement this week. The game makers claim they've already offered protections that are "among the strongest in the entertainment industry," but in the Aftermath report, Rodriguez explains that the union is unsatisfied with the specific protections being offered to motion-capture performers. GTA 6 is scheduled to release in the fall of 2025, although no PC version has been announced -- that might take another year or more, knowing Rockstar.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Is Exempt From The Game Actors Strike

SAG-AFTRA game actors are currently on strike against some of the biggest companies in the industry over AI, but that won't impact the most anticipated games of 2025: Grand Theft Auto VI. It's one of several in-development projects that is exempt from the labor action. "I can confirm GTA VI is exempt," a spokesperson for the the publishers involved in the dispute -- which includes Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two -- told Kotaku in an email. That's backed up by a search result in a SAG-AFTRA database of struck projects which shows members are still allowed to work on the upcoming open world shooter during the strike. According to the spokesperson, Audrey Cooling, any game already in development before September 2023 is also exempt. Game performers, which includes voice actors, motion capture artists, and others whose recorded work is used during production, went on strike in July after negotiations that lasted for more than a year broke down around the issue of AI protections. While the companies, including Epic Games, EA, and Activision, say they have offered meaningful concessions on the issue of generative AI, SAG-AFTRA maintains that the current proposals fall short of protecting some of their performances from being copied and duplicated using AI without disclosures or pay. When SAG-AFTRA game actors last went on strike in 2016, it lasted for nearly a year, with some members turning down high-profile roles in upcoming games -- like Ashley Burch's ongoing performance in Life Is Strange -- due to the work stoppage. While the strike will impact new games that recently went into production, or were planning to begin development later this year, many existing ones seem like they will be able to continue as scheduled. That's also the case for live-service games, which seemingly includes Fortnite and Apex Legends. However, if the strike lasts more than 60 days, ongoing performance work on those games by SAG-AFTRA members would also come to a halt. Depending on how long it lasts, companies might either turn to scab labor to replace existing performers, or be forced to delay future content and projects.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Among Games Exempt from Video Game Voice Actor Strike - IGN

However, Rockstar parent company Take-Two is still a struck company. Yesterday, SAG-AFTRA officially announced that it is officially on strike; this time, it is for video game voice actors. As the strike commences, many games currently in development will be affected due to the labor strikes. However, one notable game that will not be affected is Rockstar Games' upcoming open-world game, which is undoubtedly one of next year's most highly anticipated titles: Grand Theft Auto 6. First reported by Kotaku and independently verified by IGN, Grand Theft Auto 6 is exempt from the video game voice actor strike. Take-Two declined IGN's request for comment. Additionally, this claim of GTA 6's exemption from the video game voice actors strike can be verified by heading to the SAG-AFTRA database, which includes a search tool allowing SAG-AFTRA members to search for the struck status of video game projects. Below, you can read the message on SAG-AFTRA's website regarding GTA VI's exemption. "While not struck, this game is produced by a struck company. If you have been engaged under a daily contract for this game, you can show solidarity with your fellow union members by choosing not to sign new contracts on the game. However, you may work the game and will not be disciplined for doing so." GTA 6 is exempt from the video game voice actors strike because games already in production before August 25, 2023, including live service games, are covered by the previous contractual agreement between SAG-AFTRA and gaming companies. However, actors may still choose not to work on the game in solidarity with fellow members and cannot be penalized by employers. Grand Theft Auto 6 was officially revealed in December 2023. Its first trailer became a mega-hit for Rockstar Games, becoming YouTube's most-viewed video game reveal within 24 hours. Set in the modern-day fictionalized version of Florida, players control Lucia and an unnamed male, who fans theorize is named Jason. Upon its initial reveal, Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 would be released in 2025. However, Take-Two Interactive would narrow that release window in May 2024, when CEO Strauss Zelnick told IGN in an interview that the company was "highly confident" that GTA would not be delayed, while also revealing the game would be released in Fall 2025 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. While GTA 6 remains technically unaffected by the strikes, that does not mean the gaming industry will feel the effects of this ongoing labor strike. For more on what the strike means for gamers, check out our FAQ that runs down why the voice actors are on strike and why the union is seeking AI protections in its next contract.

Grand Theft Auto 6 unaffected by the game voice actor strike | Digital Trends

A lot of games will be affected by the SAG-AFTRA video game actors strike, but one of the most anticipated games of the next few years isn't one of them. In a statement to Kotaku, it was confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 isn't impacted by the strike. "I can confirm GTA 6 is exempt," a spokesperson for the publishers named in ongoing conversations said. The publication also learned that any games that were in development before September 2023 are unaffected, since that's when the union voted to authorize the strike. Recommended Videos "Due to certain provisions in the IMA [Interactive Media Agreement] contract, games that were in production at the time that the union provided the company its notice of termination are not currently subject to strike order. Most notices were sent in September 2022," SAG-AFTRA states. It's also unlikely to affect other huge titles coming out this year, including Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It might impact games in development, like any of Insomniac's projects. Ubisoft productions likely aren't impacted either, since it's not one of the companies listed; so expect Assassin's Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws to release unhindered by the strike. There are different rules for live-service games. SAG-AFTRA said separately that it "served a separate notice relating to live service games, which we can strike in less than 60 days." It continued, "We will update the membership if we expand the strike order to include those games closer to that time." SAG-AFTRA notes that it's all right for actors in the union to continue working, but if they're under a daily contract, they shouldn't sign new contracts to show solidarity. Generally speaking, actors won't be disciplined for crossing the picket line, but it's not a good look. SAG-AFTRA went on strike against 10 companies: Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take-Two Productions, VoiceWorks Productions, and Warner Bros. Games. (Take 2 is the parent company of Rockstar Games.) The union voted to start the strike Thursday night, after a year and a half of negotiations over concerns about how studios could use AI to replicate their voices and likenesses. "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," SAF-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said in the announcement. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the studios said the group is going to the table in good faith. "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 [Interactive Media Agreement]," spokesperson Audrey Cooling said.

GTA 6 won't be affected by the ongoing video game actor strike over protections against AI

GTA 6 is unaffected by the newly called video game voice actors strike because it's been in production for more than a year. Yesterday, it was announced by SAG-AFTRA that video game actors represented by the organization are set to strike against a number of developers and publishers to secure better protections against AI. The strike will commence today, July 26, and cover companies included in the Interactive Media Agreement, like Activision, EA, and Take-Two Productions. However, a litany of in-development video games appear to be unaffected by the strike, including Take-Two's GTA 6. According to a SAG-AFTRA statement obtained by Kotaku reporter Ethan Gach, games that have been in production for a year or more, and live service games, won't be affected by the strike, and it's safe to say GTA 6 has been in development for a lot longer than that. SAG-AFTRA specifically confirmed that GTA 6 is unaffected by the voice actor's strike, as reported by Gach on Twitter. Any SAG-AFTRA-associated voice actors that are currently working on Rockstar's game will be allowed to continue working as normal while the strike goes on. "Due to certain provisions in the IMA [Interactive Media Agreement] contract, games that were in production at the time that the union provided the company its notice of termination are not currently subject to strike order. Most notices were sent in September 2022," SAG-AFTRA states, which explains the one-year development rule for in-production games. "We served a separate notice relating to live service games, which we can strike in less than 60 days. We will update the membership if we expand the strike order to include those games closer to that time," the union continues. So live service titles are exempt from the strike, but that may not be the case if the strike runs for more than 60 days. This is unconfirmed for now, but this could mean a number of big-time games on the horizon might also be exempt from the strike, including the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, and more.

Games in development before September 2023 won't be affected by the SAG-AFTRA strikes

Late yesterday, Eirik reported on the news that SAG-AFTRA will be striking once again, this time specifically in the video game sector in an effort to combat the way that artificial intelligence (and a few other things) are used in the industry. As games tend to take a much longer time to make than movies are TV shows, we were under the assumption that if this does become a lengthy strike it will not have an impact on the games world until perhaps a couple of years down the line when we start seeing games that are in the voice and capture part of the development process at the moment. This of course led many to wonder about Grand Theft Auto VI. In a statement provided to Kotaku, it has been confirmed by Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, that GTA VI is exempt from the strikes and won't be affected. A Take-Two spokesperson says, "I can confirm that GTA VI is exempt." This isn't necessarily because any work with SAG-AFTRA personnel is complete on the project already, as it is also confirmed that in the SAG-AFTRA database GTA VI is still listed as a game that people can work on, as it's mentioned that "any game already in development before September 2023 is also exempt." This seems to suggest that even many games we'll see in 2025 and 2026, and perhaps even 2027 and beyond (meaning The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2.0 could still be safe too as they have been in development in some capacity at CD Projekt Red for a while now) will not be affected by these strikes, suggesting that the impact could be seen even further down the line.