SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Agreement with Video Game Companies, Addressing AI Concerns in Year-Long Strike

Video game performers on strike for almost a year over AI issues reach a tentative deal

The union for Hollywood's video game performers has reached a tentative contract with several video game companies that may bring an end to an almost year-long strike tied to the use of artificial intelligence. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists went on strike in July 2024 after negotiations with game industry giants came to a halt over artificial intelligence protections. SAG-AFTRA said that the unregulated use of AI posed "an equal or even greater threat" to performers in the video game industry than it does in film and television because the capacity to cheaply and easily create convincing digital replicas of performers' voices is widely available. The performers were worried that unchecked use of AI could provide game makers with a means to displace them -- by training an AI to replicate an actor's voice, or to create a digital replica of their likeness without consent. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains," SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. The union had been negotiating with an industry bargaining group consisting of signatory video game companies, including divisions of Activision and Electronic Arts. Those companies include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. SAG-AFTRA said that it anticipates that the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with the companies soon. Union members will remain on strike until such an agreement is reached. The tentative contract deal still needs approval by the National Board and ratification by union membership. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later, in September 2017. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists.

SAG-AFTRA has suspended its gaming industry strike over AI protections

SAG-AFTRA has its strike against ten game studios. The organization's national board will meet tomorrow to consider a tentative agreement with the developers; more details of the arrangement will be disclosed if and when the board agrees to the terms. obtained a statement from a spokesperson for the gaming companies that offered some hints about the contents of the potential deal: "This agreement builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union. It delivers historic wage increases of over 24 percent for performers, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading AI provisions requiring transparency, consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas in games." It's been almost a year since the performers' union called a against the companies participating in the Interactive Media Agreement. The move was part of an effort to secure protections for its members regarding AI-generated likenesses of their voices and bodies in the gaming industry. The studios signatory to the IMA are: In addition to the negotiations with the IMA businesses, SAG-AFTRA recently took action against Epic Games for its use of an in Fortnite.

Performers and video game companies reach deal that ends nearly year-long strike

Striking performers picket outside Disney Character Voices, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, in Burbank, California, in August. Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty hide caption Performers in the SAG-AFTRA union have suspended their nearly year-long strike against major video game companies that temporarily halted much of the work that goes into game production. The two sides hammered out a tentative agreement that includes "guardrails" against the use of artificial intelligence. "Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike," Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, said in a statement. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains." Voiceover and body movement performers in the union had been at odds with companies such as Activision Productions, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, WB Games and others, since last July. "We are pleased to have reached a tentative contract agreement that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in video games," Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal, wrote in a statement. "This agreement builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union. It delivers historic wage increases of over 24% for performers, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading AI provisions requiring transparency, consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas in games," she noted. "We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world." One of the sticking points of the negotiations had been over the use of artificial intelligence in video game productions. Some performers worried that their work could be replaced by A.I. Others were concerned that their performances could be considered merely "data." "It's really scary to think about how far our data has gone, and the breaches of consent that may have already happened because performers were signing contracts that they didn't fully understand," stunt performer Omar Zaki said on a picket line in October. Zaki has performed in video games including Fortnight, Mortal Kombat I, and The Callisto Protocol. He said he was worried that the computer data collected from his performances could be used "in perpetuity" without his permission. He said he went on strike "to draw really clear boundaries about when it's okay to use our data and when it's not okay to. So many of us love this work, and we are very good at what we do. And the companies who employ us benefit greatly from bringing us on." On the same picket line, voiceover actors Scott Lambright and Kyle McCarley said they worried about the possibility that A.I. could be used to replace their jobs, too. "We want to know how it's being used and we want to be compensated appropriately," said Lambright, who's worked on games such as The Last of Us Parts I and II, Fallout 76 and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. "There are times when it makes sense to use this technology, and then there are times when you're never going to match the performance of a human actor who can give you nuanced expression." McCarley also worried that A.I. could be used to misrepresent voiceover performers. "What terrifies me is the prospect of anybody having the ability to put any words they want into anybody's mouth," he said. "It just scares me so much," Lambright agreed. "There's all these things I would never say: endorsing a political candidate I don't want to endorse; or saying 'I hate unions' or something racist. I would never want that. Now we have to be on guard of not only watching what we say, but watching what someone will make us say without our consent." Details about the interim agreement were not immediately released, but the deal will first go to the union's board this week before being ratified by union members. During the strike, more than 120 video games from 49 companies signed "interim agreements" with the union, promising to give union members additional compensation and the ability to consent to A.I. use. Voice actor Sarah Elmaleh, the chair of the union's negotiating committee, told NPR she was delighted by these companies' cooperation. "Many employers were more than willing to provide these protections to our performers, " she said, "so they could work in games with peace of mind." Elmaleh said during the strike, some video game companies that did not sign agreements tried to lure in performers with misleading auditions. "We've seen folks put out casting notices under a commercial contract when it's actually for a game. We've seen all kinds of evasive maneuvers, " said Elmaleh, who called the tactics "shady." Despite some interim agreements, some performers worried that this year's disruption to the video game industry has been "cataclysmic," and will have ripple effects for months, as video game production ramps back up. It's part of a larger wave of labor action in Hollywood. In 2023, performers with SAG- AFTRA went on strike for months before signing a contract with major Hollywood studios. Their agreement also now has A.I. protections. Other entertainment industry workers have now secured similar agreements. While negotiating for a new contract with Hollywood studios in October, The Animation Guild signed a contract with unionized workers at a studio in Texas - the guild's first agreement in a right-to-work state. And for the first time, a small group of motion capture staff at a video game studio voted to unionize with IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. The 21 full time staff members at 2K Motion Capture include animators, audio specialists, stage technicians and engineers who work on games including NBA 2K, TopSpin 2K, and more. Lambright said even with a new contract for SAG-AFTRA, video game performers will have to be vigilant to ensure the new provisions are enforced. And he said he hopes for federal legislation to ensure that A.I. isn't used in ways that workers haven't consented to. "That's going to be the thing that's really going to help us," he said.

SAG-AFTRA actors union reaches agreement with game companies to stop strike

SAG-AFTRA has reach an agreement to end its strike against game companies. Image Credit: SAG-AFTRA The game companies and the SAG-AFTRA actors union have reached an agreement that is expected to end a long strike. Once the terms of a strike suspension agreement are finalized with employers, the strike will be over. The strike was mainly about the rights of video game voice actors when it comes to the use of their voices or likenesses when it comes to the game companies' use of AI to reproduce actors in their games. Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the signatory video game companies have reached an agreement. The strike has been going on since July 26, 2024. The companies include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. They have reached a tentative agreement on terms for the Interactive Media Contract, subject to review and approval by the National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks. Specific details of the agreement will be released with the ratification materials. It is expected the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with employers soon. Until such agreement is reached, however, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike against these employers. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said, "Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike. Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains. Thank you, Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Chair Sarah Elmaleh and Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez for your hard work and advocacy in pursuit of this contract." SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated, "Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world's most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before. As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game." SAG-AFTRA members have been on strike against video game employers since July 26, 2024. Prior to that, SAG-AFTRA members approved a video game strike authorization in September 2023 with a 98.32% yes vote. SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.

Video game performers on strike for almost a year over AI issues reach a tentative deal

The union for Hollywood's video game performers has reached a tentative contract with several video game companies that may bring an end to an almost year-long strike tied to the use of artificial intelligence. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists went on strike in July 2024 after negotiations with game industry giants came to a halt over artificial intelligence protections. SAG-AFTRA said that the unregulated use of AI posed "an equal or even greater threat" to performers in the video game industry than it does in film and television because the capacity to cheaply and easily create convincing digital replicas of performers' voices is widely available. The performers were worried that unchecked use of AI could provide game makers with a means to displace them -- by training an AI to replicate an actor's voice, or to create a digital replica of their likeness without consent. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains," SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. The union had been negotiating with an industry bargaining group consisting of signatory video game companies, including divisions of Activision and Electronic Arts. Those companies include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. SAG-AFTRA said that it anticipates that the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with the companies soon. Union members will remain on strike until such an agreement is reached. The tentative contract deal still needs approval by the National Board and ratification by union membership. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later, in September 2017. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

The SAG-AFTRA video game voice actors' strike has come to an end

The strike -- which has been ongoing since July 26, 2024 -- has impacted numerous games, including Destiny 2, Genshin Impact, and League of Legends. If ratified, the updated IMA will secure better pay and better protections against AI for voice actors in video games. "We are pleased to have reached a tentative contract agreement that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in video games," an IMA Negotiating Committee spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Polygon. "This agreement builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union. It delivers historic wage increases of over 24% for performers, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading AI provisions requiring transparency, consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas in games. We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world."

After 10 months, SAG-AFTRA union has reached a 'tentative agreement' with major companies including EA, Warner Bros, and Epic over AI voice acting protections

SAG-AFTRA will remain on strike until the "agreement is reached". SAG-AFTRA, a large US-based union covering a ton of performing talent across multiple industries, has finally reached a "tentative agreement" with a series of major companies after 10 months of strike action. The strike, which began July 26 of 2024, is still ongoing until details are finalised -- but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. SAG-AFTRA members struck specific games and studios over "critical AI protections" to ensure voice actors wouldn't be working to replace their own jobs with generative AI. As the 30 Apex Legends actors who refused to sign an agreement back in February of this year put it, there's been not entirely unsubstantiated fear that "give up our expertise to train the generative AI that will replace us tomorrow". Other major voice actors from games like Baldur's Gate 3, Mass Effect, and more have shown fear and frustration -- both at the rise of generative AI technology, and games companies speaking effusively about it, seeming downright excited to cut out the kind of creative talent responsible for their past successes. As SAG-AFTRA's official announcement reads, the union has "reached a tentative agreement on terms for the Interactive Media Contract, subject to review and approval by the National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks. Specific details of the agreement will be released with the ratification materials." The agreement, in particular, is with some big names, "which include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc." Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's national executive director and chief negotiator, says the agreement "puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains." It's been a particularly brutal strike in a particularly brutal year (years, if we're being honest) for the games industry at large -- with strikebreaking voice actors, replacing the roles of actors on strike, causing turmoil in game communities like Genshin Impact. Those particular waters have been further muddied by players' frustration that their English cutscenes have gone unvoiced for a while, despite SAG-AFTRA fighting for the working rights of the actors they're missing out on -- conspiracy theories, unfortunately, abound. As one actor put it at the time: "'Keeping the characters hostage from us and hurting our experience' WHAT?!? We're fighting for worker's rights, that's what a strike is all about ... I know this ISN'T ALL gacha fans. But the replies to some of my fellows are HORRENDOUS." Still, things might finally be looking up. Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA's president, however, hints that the work isn't quite done yet: "Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world's most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before. "As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game."

UK actor's union Equity applauds "tenacity and persistence" of SAG-AFTRA members as tentative agreement over AI reached

UK actors' union Equity has applauded the "tenacity and persistence" of SAG-AFTRA video game performers, following news the US union has reached a tentative agreement after almost a year on strike. It now calls upon the industry to negotiate for UK performers too. Yesterday, the US union shared news of its tentative agreement with multiple video game companies over the Interactive Media Agreement. The strike, which began last July, will continue until the agreement is finalised. A key reason for the strike was the need to protect performers from AI abuse. It's unclear what protections have been included in this new tentative agreement, but SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland has stated the "necessary AI guardrails" have been put in place. "Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike," said Crabtree-Ireland. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains." SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher added: "Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world's most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before." Here in the UK, Equity members have been unable to strike due to UK law, but the union previously stated it stands "in solidarity" with SAG-AFTRA. Now, in a statement shared with Eurogamer, Equity assistant general secretary for recorded media John Barclay has called upon the industry to negotiate for UK performers too, adding: "The UK cannot be the poor relation". "We applaud the tenacity and persistence of the SAG-AFTRA video game performers who have been on strike for nearly a year pursuing an agreement with some of the biggest media companies in the world," said Barclay. "Important gains have been made and, significantly, agreement has been reached to put in place AI guardrails to defend performers' livelihoods. We look forward to receiving further details of the tentative agreement." He continued: "Equity UK now calls upon the very same global engagers to meet with us to negotiate an agreement for our video games performers in the world's most lucrative industries that will bring fair rates of pay along with contractual terms covering AI. The UK cannot be the poor relation, especially when the industry and engagers here in the UK are supported by tax breaks. So we call upon the engagers to step up to meet the challenge to make the UK games industry the best it possibly can be for creatives." Equity members protested outside this year's BAFTA Games Awards in April, calling on the games industry to improve conditions for performers. This includes better pay and terms and conditions for their work, as well as AI protection. At the start of this year, Eurogamer spoke with Mass Effect actor Jennifer Hale on why the SAG-AFTRA strike was taking so long. "[AI is] a huge issue for all of us and the repercussions are vast," she said. "So to me, it makes sense that everyone needs to take their time. As performers - and we saw this in the writers strike and the theatrical contract strike - we're just the canary in the coal mine."

Videogame voice actors strike 'suspended' following agreement with game companies: 'All SAG-AFTRA members are instructed to return to work'

A day after reaching a tentative agreement with major game companies over "critical AI protections" for voice actors, the SAG-AFTRA union has suspended the strike that's been ongoing since July 2024 and given its members the green light to return to work. That the strike is "suspended" and not ended is meaningful, as the new agreement still has to be ratified by union membership. But the finish line is close enough that SAG-AFTRA members are now back on the job. "All SAG-AFTRA members are instructed to return to work on productions under the IMA, including work promoting or publicizing projects produced under the IMA," the union said in today's announcement. "The SAG-AFTRA National Board will meet in special session tomorrow, June 12, 2025, to consider the tentative agreement. If approved, it will be sent out for ratification by the union's membership in accordance with established policy. Details of the agreement will be released at that time." The voice actors strike began on July 26, 2024, demanding "fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the AI use of their faces, voices, and bodies." Game makers, of course, said they'd already offered "meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation," and expressed disappointment when the strike was announced that "the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal." A statement provided to PC Gamer by a representative of the game companies involved in the new deal shed a little preliminary light on what it includes. "We are pleased to have reached a tentative contract agreement that reflects the important contributions of SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in videogames," said Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the videogame producers party to the Interactive Media Agreement. "This agreement builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union. "It delivers historic wage increases of over 24% for performers, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading AI provisions requiring transparency, consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas in games. We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world."

US actors union suspends year-long video game strike following "tentative agreement" over AI

Just days after announcing a tentative agreement had been reached with key video game publishers, US actors union SAG-AFTRA has called off its nearly year-long strike action, instructing members to return work on productions that fall under the Interactive Media Agreement. SAG-AFTRA (AKA the The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) represents around 160,000 members, and it announced a strike affecting all work under its Interactive Media Agreement - which covers a variety of roles within video games, including voice acting - last July. The move came after the union failed to reach an agreement with key video game publishers such as Activision, EA, and Take-Two Interactive, as it renegotiated the terms of its contract, despite more than 18 months of discussions. While SAG-AFTRA successfully negotiated on a variety of critical issues, including wages in-line with inflation and job safety, sufficient protections against the exploitative use of AI remained a key sticking point. Back in March, eight months after the strike had begun, SAG-AFTRA said proposals from video game companies were still filled with "alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse". Earlier this week, however, SAG-AFTRA announced it had finally reached a "tentative agreement" with companies including Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Warner Bros. that included the "necessary AI guardrails" it had been pushing for. And now, following that news, SAG-AFTRA national executive director & chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland has officially suspended the strike against the companies signatory to the Interactive Media Agreement, as of noon PT today. "All SAG-AFTRA members are instructed to return to work on productions under the IMA," the union wrote in its announcement, "including work promoting or publicising projects produced under the IMA. The SAG-AFTRA National Board will meet in special session tomorrow, 12th June, 2025, to consider the tentative agreement. If approved, it will be sent out for ratification by the union's membership in accordance with established policy. Details of the agreement will be released at that time." Yesterday, UK actors' union Equity applauded the "tenacity and persistence" of SAG-AFTRA video game performers, after news of its tentative agreement broke. Equity members protested outside this year's BAFTA Games Awards in April, calling on the games industry to improve conditions for performers, including better pay and terms and conditions for their work, as well as AI protections.

Video game actors' strike ends after tentative deal is reached

Video game actors and non-video game SAG-AFTRA supporters walk the picket line at Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank, Calif., on Aug. 1, 2024. Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file The video game actors' strike was suspended on Wednesday after a tentative deal with game publishers was announced, bringing an end to the union's nearly year-long strike. The previous Interactive Media Agreement between the actors and video game companies expired in July 2022, and did not have any protections for artificial intelligence, according to the SAG-AFTRA, which counts 2,600 voice actors, stunt performers, motion capture and performance capture actors among its union members. The actors began striking in July. Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games were among the struck video game companies. The strike also applied to specific games on a case-by-case basis. The future of generative AI -- and how it can be used to replace labor -- was a crucial sticking point for actors and writers during last year's Hollywood strikes. While the actors and writers unions came to deals with studios in 2023, negotiations between video game actors and major game developers continued. Terms of the new contract have not yet been announced. But in a news release about the tentative deal, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland mentioned progress had been made regarding AI provisions. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains," he stated. Crabtree-Ireland, who also served as the chief negotiator, acknowledged "the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike." SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher also commended the "incredible courage and persistence" of the video game performers, as well as "the tireless work of our negotiating committee" in helping secure a deal. A spokesperson for the union did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment on Wednesday. Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers party to the Interactive Media Agreement, also commended the deal. "This agreement builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union," she sand in an email statement. "It delivers historic wage increases of over 24% for performers, enhanced health and safety protections, and industry-leading AI provisions requiring transparency, consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas in games. We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world."

Video game voice actors have been on strike for nearly a year. They finally have deal

Video game voice actors and motion capture artists could be headed back to work soon. SAG-AFTRA and major video game companies have announced a tentative contract agreement, 11 months after union members began a work stoppage. Artificial intelligence was at the heart of the dispute. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains," said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator for the union in a statement. Terms of the agreement were not immediately released. SAG-AFTRA said it would offer details with ratification materials to members. While a tentative deal is in place, members will continue to strike the major video game companies until the final terms are agreed upon, the union said. SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher seemed to stop short of declaring victory, saying "The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before," but later added planning would begin for the next negotiation immediately saying "every contract is a work in progress."

Video game performers on strike for almost a year over AI issues reach a tentative deal

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has reached a tentative contract deal with several video game companies that may bring an end to an almost year-long strike tied to the use of artificial intelligence The union for Hollywood's video game performers has reached a tentative contract with several video game companies that may bring an end to an almost year-long strike tied to the use of artificial intelligence. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists went on strike in July 2024 after negotiations with game industry giants came to a halt over artificial intelligence protections. SAG-AFTRA said that the unregulated use of AI posed "an equal or even greater threat" to performers in the video game industry than it does in film and television because the capacity to cheaply and easily create convincing digital replicas of performers' voices is widely available. The performers were worried that unchecked use of AI could provide game makers with a means to displace them -- by training an AI to replicate an actor's voice, or to create a digital replica of their likeness without consent. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains," SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. The union had been negotiating with an industry bargaining group consisting of signatory video game companies, including divisions of Activision and Electronic Arts. Those companies include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. SAG-AFTRA said that it anticipates that the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with the companies soon. Union members will remain on strike until such an agreement is reached. The tentative contract deal still needs approval by the National Board and ratification by union membership. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later, in September 2017. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists.

Video game performers on strike for almost a year over AI issues reach a tentative deal

The union for Hollywood's video game performers has reached a tentative contract with several video game companies that may bring an end to an almost year-long strike tied to the use of artificial intelligence. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists went on strike in July 2024 after negotiations with game industry giants came to a halt over artificial intelligence protections. SAG-AFTRA said that the unregulated use of AI posed "an equal or even greater threat" to performers in the video game industry than it does in film and television because the capacity to cheaply and easily create convincing digital replicas of performers' voices is widely available. The performers were worried that unchecked use of AI could provide game makers with a means to displace them -- by training an AI to replicate an actor's voice, or to create a digital replica of their likeness without consent. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains," SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. The union had been negotiating with an industry bargaining group consisting of signatory video game companies, including divisions of Activision and Electronic Arts. Those companies include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. SAG-AFTRA said that it anticipates that the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with the companies soon. Union members will remain on strike until such an agreement is reached. The tentative contract deal still needs approval by the National Board and ratification by union membership. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later, in September 2017. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists.

11-Month Battle Over AI Finally Ending As Striking Game Actors Reach Tentative Deal

A nearly year-long battle between SAG-AFTRA game actors and the major publishers over AI protections for performances is set to end, after both sides reached a tentative agreement this week. Details of the deal haven't yet been released, but the union says it includes "necessary AI guardrails" as companies adopt tools to copy, replicate, and alter the work of actors. The 10 companies involved in the agreement are Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. SAG-AFTRA says more about the deal will be shared after members vote to ratify it in the coming weeks. The two sides are still hashing out the terms of the strike suspension agreement, however, so actors will remain on strike for a little longer. "Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike," SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a press release. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains." The strike began last July, and while it involved demands for pay raises and better onsite working conditions, the biggest sticking point throughout negotiations was the role AI might play in voice recording and performance capture. While actors are currently paid on a session by session basis for specific performances, AI models would make it easy for companies to take that data and replicate an actor's voice or movements, either altering their creative output or replacing it altogether. Back in March, Ashly Burch who plays Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn shared her concerns about AI replacing actors after an internal tech demo at Sony showed an AI-controlled Aloy having a conversation with a player. SAG-AFTRA recently filed an unfair labor practice against Epic Games for using an AI-voiced Darth Vader in Fortnite while still in negotiations. Meanwhile, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has said he foresees a possible future in which all NPCs are AI-controlled. As the strike continued throughout last fall and into 2025, actors in some games saw themselves replaced by other artists in projects like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Zenless Zone Zero, as game companies sought to continue releasing updates. Games like Destiny 2, meanwhile, simply left some characters completely silent who would have otherwise voiced dialogue. Some SAG-AFTRA actors voiced their frustration with the duration of the strike in recent weeks. "I hope SAG-AFTRA is aware that, either intentionally or through negligence, an environment has been created around IMA negotiations whereby it is impossible to express a good-faith disagreement without being dismissed as anti-union, a management shill, or both," voice actor William Salyers, who voiced Otto Octavius in Spider-Man 2, wrote on Threads last week. "The damage being done by this will persist long after the strike is settled." Jennifer Hale, best known as Commander Shepard in Mass Effect, added, "Vilifying those differences only divides the community."

Striking Hollywood Video Game Actors Reach Tentative Agreement With Studios

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Hollywood video game voice and motion capture actors and video game studios reached a tentative agreement on Monday with new conditions for the interactive media contract, pending review from the actor guild's national board. A press release from Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) detailed the deal following the almost year-long strike centered on artificial intelligence (AI) protections and wage increase. SAG-AFTRA has pending agreements with Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc after striking since July 2024. After the strike began, the guild filed an unfair labor practice charge in 2024 and added company Formosa Interactive to the list of studios for work stoppage. Formosa provides voiceover services for the popular online game "League of Legends,". "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains," SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in the press release. The guild said until the official agreement is made, video game actors will remain on strike against these employers. The work stoppage of video game voice actors and motion-capture performers started following failed contract negotiations focused around AI-related protections for workers, bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood following the dual writers' and actors' strikes in 2023. The strike brings with it a larger call to action across Hollywood as people in the industry advocate for a law that can protect them from AI risks as well. The NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress which would make it illegal to make an AI replica of someone's likeness and voice without their permission, has gained support from the SAG-AFTRA performers union, the Motion Picture Association, The Recording Academy and Disney. (Reporting by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Video game performers on strike for almost a year over AI issues reach a tentative deal

The union for Hollywood's video game performers has reached a tentative contract with several video game companies that may bring an end to an almost year-long strike tied to the use of artificial intelligence. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists went on strike in July 2024 after negotiations with game industry giants came to a halt over artificial intelligence protections. SAG-AFTRA said that the unregulated use of AI posed "an equal or even greater threat" to performers in the video game industry than it does in film and television because the capacity to cheaply and easily create convincing digital replicas of performers' voices is widely available. The performers were worried that unchecked use of AI could provide game makers with a means to displace them - by training an AI to replicate an actor's voice, or to create a digital replica of their likeness without consent. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains," SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. The union had been negotiating with an industry bargaining group consisting of signatory video game companies, including divisions of Activision and Electronic Arts. Those companies include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. SAG-AFTRA said that it anticipates that the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with the companies soon. Union members will remain on strike until such an agreement is reached. The tentative contract deal still needs approval by the National Board and ratification by union membership. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later, in September 2017. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists.

SAG-AFTRA reaches tentative agreement with major video game companies

We all remember the great SAG-AFTRA strike of a couple of years ago, where in the face of daunting technology and fairer conditions actors followed writers in striking against big Hollywood companies. Once film and TV actors got a deal, however, video game actors were left behind, leading to another strike beginning in the summer of last year. Now, it appears that strike may be coming to an end, as SAG-AFTRA has announced it has reached a tentative agreement with some of the biggest gaming companies including Insomniac, Activision, Take-Two, EA, Disney, WB Games, and more. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains," said SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher added: "Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world's most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before." As companies experiment more with AI, the fears will likely persist around actors losing their voice to a model that replicates it. But, with this deal in place, hopefully there will be things actors can do if that happens.

SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Deal With Video Game Companies, Voice-Actors Strike Might Be Coming To An End

SAG-AFTRA has announced that it has reached a tentative deal with video game companies over the Interactive Media contract, potentially bringing the voice actors' strike to an end. Performers under the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA) have been on strike since July 2024, with the main sticking point being protections from companies abusing generative AI technology to use an actor's voice in perpetuity, without having to compensate them after the first contract agreement, or get consent from the actor to use an AI-generated version of their voice for future projects. Now, a tentative deal has been reached, which SAG-AFTRA's national chief executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, says "puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains." SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher added, "Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world's most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before. As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game." Once the details of the deal have been finalized, which is expected to happen "soon," the strike will end. Performers under the IMA are still on strike until such time.

SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Contract Deal With Video Game Companies After Nearly a Year on Strike

Hollywood Incentives Bill Passes the CA State Assembly Without $750 Million Specified, For Now In an agreement that could eventually mark the end of a nearly yearlong strike, SAG-AFTRA and major video game companies have reached a tentative deal on a contract agreement. The performers' union announced the provisional deal on Monday night without getting into specifics on the terms of the agreement. The work stoppage against video game firms will continue until the terms of a strike suspension agreement have been fully hammered out, the union stated. Voice and performance capture workers have been withholding their services from Activision Productions, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, WB Games, Take 2 Productions, Blindlight and Formosa Interactive since July 2024. With the strike, the union took a stand against proposed terms that allegedly would allow companies to "abuse AI to the detriment of our members," in the words of union president Fran Drescher. At the time, a representative for the companies countered that the union "chose to walk away" after the sides "found common ground" on 24 out of 25 proposals. The strike was characterized by a series of rolling protests held at the offices of signatory companies in the L.A. area, from Burbank's Formosa Interactive to Santa Monica's Activision Productions. Prior to Wednesday's announcement, the parties had been negotiating their agreement for years, with it initially expiring in November of 2022. As recently as March, the union was decrying "alarming loopholes" in the companies' latest AI proposals. The union's national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez led the negotiations for the union and Kauff McGuire & Margolis managing partner William E. Zuckerman bargained on behalf of employers.

SAG-AFTRA Suspends Strike Against Video Game Companies, Paving Way for Return to Work

MSNBC Is Working to Build Its Podcast Portfolio. Next Up: A Nicolle Wallace Show After nearly a year on strike against major video game companies, SAG-AFTRA has worked out the details of a suspension agreement to allow its performers to return to work for the major studios as its negotiating team readies the terms of a tentative new contract. The National Board of the union will meet on Thursday to go over the agreement and if it is cleared it will be sent out to its members for ratification. Those details have not yet been disclosed, as far as the specificity of the labor gains for voice and performance capture workers. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains," stated SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland upon unveiling the tentative deal late on June 9. Added SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, "Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world's most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before." Struck companies -- the picketing started last July 26 -- had included gaming giants like Activision, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions and WB Games Inc.

SAG-AFTRA Reaches 'Tentative Agreement' With Video Game Companies Over AI Protections for Performers - IGN

The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached a "tentative agreement" on the interactive media contract, potentially bringing to an end almost a year of industrial action across the video game industry. The SAG-AFTRA video game strike was instigated back in July 2024 after the union and the major game companies -- Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games -- that sit on the board failed to agree on AI provisions. Over 98% of members subsequently voted to strike. While at first it was difficult to tell exactly how the strike would affect our games, there were visible impacts across the industry; players reported that a number of ongoing games such as Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft appeared to leave some NPCs unvoiced in otherwise voiced scenes, likely due to the strike. Then, late last year, SAG-AFTRA struck League of Legends after Riot allegedly tried to subvert the strike by canceling a game in response, and Activision confirmed Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 characters were recast after players expressed concern about new voices. Now, however, the union said it has reached a "tentative agreement," subject to review and approval of its national board. It is expected that strike action will be suspended soon, although until the national board approves the draft agreement, SAG-AFTRA members will "remain on strike against these employers." "Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike," said SAG-AFTRA National executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. "Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains." SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Epic Games, after the company implemented an AI-voiced Darth Vader NPC in Fortnite. The complaint alleged that over the last six months, Llama Productions (owned by Epic Games) had failed to bargain in good faith with SAG-AFTRA's video game actors and had made "unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work" on Fortnite. And in March, Horizon actor Ashly Burch addressed an AI Aloy video that leaked online, using it to call attention to the demands of striking voice actors. Burch said the AI Aloy video left her feeling "worried about game performance as an art form," and used it as a jumping off point to discuss the video game voice actors strike. "Currently what we're fighting for is, you have to get our consent before you make an AI version of us in any form, you have to compensate us fairly, and you have to tell us how you're using this AI double," Burch explained. "I feel worried not because the technology exists. Not even because game companies want to use it. Of course they do. They always want to use technological advancements. I just imagine a video like this coming out that does have someone's performance attached to it, that does have someone's voice or face or movement. And the possibility that if we lose this fight, that person would have no recourse. They wouldn't have any protections, any way to fight back. And that possibility, it makes me so sad it hurts my heart. It scares me. I love this industry and this art form so much and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. I want to be able to continue to do this job. If we don't win, that future is really compromised." Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images.