SAG-AFTRA and Video Game Companies Resume Negotiations Amid AI Concerns

SAG-AFTRA and Video Game Companies to Resume Talks Amid Strike

Writers Guild West Tells Members Not to Work With 'The Expendables' Producer Millennium Pictures More than two months into SAG-AFTRA's strike against video game companies, the union and the bargaining group representing employers have set a return to the bargaining table. The negotiations will continue on Oct. 23, the parties said in a joint statement on Tuesday. The companies included in the employer negotiating group include Activision Productions Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., WB Games Inc, Take 2 Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC and Formosa Interactive LLC. The return to in-person negotiations is a long time coming. The union's Interactive Media Agreement expired in November 2022 and reportedly the last time the two parties met in person was in November of last year, not long after the union concluded its historic 118-day strike against film and television companies. The union announced the work stoppage against video game firms on July 25 after the parties couldn't come to terms over provisions related to artificial intelligence. "We're not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough," the union's president, Fran Drescher, said at the time. A representative for the companies countered, meanwhile, that the parties had reached an agreement on 24 out of 25 proposals, covering wage, safety and other issues, and that the firms were disappointed that the union had "walked away." Ever since, the union has been holding rolling protests in front of the offices of signatory companies like Disney Character Voices and Electronic Arts. The union has scheduled a Wednesday picket in front of the Warner Bros. Games offices in Burbank. SAG-AFTRA's chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez has led the long-running negotiations for the union, while Kauff McGuire & Margolis managing partner William E. Zuckerman has served as chief negotiator for the companies.

SAG-AFTRA and game companies resume negotiations

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More The SAG-AFTRA talent union has resumed negotiations with video game companies around rules for using AI for voice acting in games. The parties said SAG-AFTRA and the convenience bargaining group with whom the union negotiates its Interactive Media Agreement will resume negotiations on October 23. The convenience bargaining group includes Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games. SAG-AFTRA called for a strike on July 24 after negotiations stalled over how to balance voice actor rights and the use of AI tools in the production of games. No further comment is available from either party at this time.