SAG-AFTRA Strike Continues as AI Concerns Remain Unresolved in Video Game Voice Acting

SAG-AFTRA union and video game industry bargaining group remain at odds as agreements on AI protections still 'frustratingly far apart'

Several English-voiced games still have many major characters unvoiced in recent updates Union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) has created a comparison chart as an update in its ongoing negotiations with the games industry bargaining group. The key takeaway is that both entities remain "frustratingly far apart" on the issue of AI protections for video game voice actors. IGN reports that the union has published a comparison chart that outlines in detail the issues that it and the bargaining group are still working through. More specifically, the chart "focuses on recent exchanges relating to AI." Items highlighted in purple in the chart represent issues that have been tentatively agreed upon between SAG-AFTRA and the bargaining group (which is made up of representatives from video game publishing corporations). However, discussions on several key issues are ongoing. These include protections from "digital replica or generative AI use for all work" as well as the notion that "employers must disclose if it will blend your voice with other voices to make a digital replica." Alongside the chart, SAG-AFTRA's Duncan Crabtree-Ireland wrote the following statement to the union's members: "With their previously signed projects dragging their way through the production pipeline, employers are feeling the squeeze from the strike, as SAG-AFTRA members who work in video games continue to stand together and refuse to work without adequate protections. "This is causing employers to seek other performers they can exploit to fill those roles, including those who don't typically perform in games. If you're approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences. "Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against A.I. misuse. And "A.I. misuse" is just a nice way of saying that these companies want to use your performance to replace you - without consent or compensation." Games industry bargaining group spokesperson Audrey Cooling issued a statement in response, saying: "We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15% for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor's performance in other games. We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal." The negotiations continue amidst cases of popular video game characters remaining unvoiced. Games like Destiny 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero have been particularly affected. Most recently, Zenless Zone Zero actors Emeri Chase and Nicholas Thurkettle have spoken on their roles for characters Soldier 11 and Von Lycaon, respectively, having been replaced. In a Bluesky thread, Chase wrote they were "replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protection, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry." In response, Thurkettle added: "I'm not SAG but what game companies want to do with AI is an existential threat. I took a personal stand to ask for protection and had to be willing to give up the best thing that's ever happened in my professional life. I stand by my choice."

Concerns over AI threaten to extend current video game acting strike

Since July 2024, members of SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild -- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) have been on strike regarding the use of their work and likeness in games, and new concerns are poised to extend the strike. A message sent to union members cites "alarming loopholes" that threaten members and leave them "vulnerable to AI abuse," based on information shared with Eurogamer. Yuri Lowenthal, the voice of Spider-Man, spoke with Variety earlier this month and summed up the situation well. "It boils down to three things for me. One is consent that you don't use the data that you've recorded from us to manufacture a performance that we had no say over. Two, compensation: if you're going to do something like that, then we deserve a piece of that. Otherwise, actors won't get paid anymore, and it's all over for us. And three: control, being able to track that sort of stuff and know where it's going." Recommended Videos The situation is complicated, with numerous moving parts and varied opinions, but Lowenthal's statement gives you the gist of the guild's concerns. Many voice actors, including Jennifer Hale (the voice of female Shepard in Mass Effect) Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game producer's party, responded to SAG-AFTRA's concerns with the following statement (also shared with Eurogamer). "We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15 percent for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor's performance in other games." Please enable Javascript to view this content SAG-AFTRA has not publicly responded to the latest proposal. Until an agreement is reached that the guild feels is beneficial to its members, the strike is likely to continue. SAG has encouraged non-affiliated members to turn down work until video game studios agree to the terms. This is not the first time voice actors have striked over career concerns. Another strike lasted from late 2016 until 2017 over fair compensation, with an agreement finally being reached in September 2017.

Zenless Zone Zero voice actors replaced as union negotiation remains 'far apart' on AI protections

Nicole Carpenter is a senior reporter specializing in investigative features about labor issues in the game industry, as well as the business and culture of games. Video game performers have been on strike since July 26, 2024, and negotiations remain "far apart," according to the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Interactive Media Negotiating Committee chair Sarah Elmaleh jointly sent out a letter to members on Tuesday, sharing an update on bargaining. The sticking point continues to be the use of artificial intelligence and the use of "digital replicas" of video game actors.

Two Zenless Zone Zero actors lose jobs over AI dispute without notice, finding out alongside players

Two voice actors working on Zenless Zone Zero have been suddenly recast due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike over AI abuse, and discovered the change alongside the publication of the game's patch notes. Emeri Chase, who played Soldier 11, announced they were replaced as they were "unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protections". Meanwhile Nicholas Thurkettle, who played Lycaon, has also been recast despite not being a member of the union. Both actors only found out about the recasting at the same time as players, when details of Zenless Zone Zero's latest patch went live. Chase posted a thread on social media to explain the situation. "I'd like to clarify that there's a difference between being 'struck' and not being on an Interim Agreement," they said. "Union projects that began work prior to the strike and non-union projects are not 'struck'. But they also do not offer the Union-enforced AI rights we are fighting for. "Many actors are choosing to voluntarily withhold work on these categories of projects because we feel it is the best way to support the Union's fight for the protections that are critical to our continued ability to create the art we love. "I knew that by withholding work it was possible I'd be replaced, though of course I hoped they would choose to leave her silent until I was able to return. I found out the role was recast today alongside all of you." Hey proxies, I was replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protection, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry. Any other theories that pop up are incorrect. 🧵1/5 -- Emeri Chase ( @emerichase.com) 12 March 2025 at 03:56 Thurkettle posted: "I'm learning about this as you are and I share your shock. Neither HoYoverse nor Sound Cadence has communicated with me since October. I've been fully available and recorded multiple voice jobs in that time." Then, sharing Chase's post, Thurkettle followed up: "This is what I've been quiet about. I'm not SAG but what game companies want to do with AI is an existential threat. I took a personal stand to ask for protection, and had to be willing to give up the best thing that's ever happened in my professional life. I stand by my choice." This is what I've been quiet about. I'm not SAG but what game companies want to do with AI is an existential threat. I took a personal stand to ask for protection, and had to be willing to give up the best thing that's ever happened in my professional life. I stand by my choice. [image or embed] -- Nicholas Thurkettle - Voice Actor ( @nthurkettle.bsky.social) 12 March 2025 at 04:01 Eurogamer has contacted HoYoverse for further comment. Today, Eurogamer reported the strike from US actors' union SAG-AFTRA remains ongoing as it warns of "alarming loopholes" for "AI abuse" in the latest proposal. The strike began back in July last year, with the main sticking point being the need to protect actors from AI abuse. While some actors are still working despite the strike, Chase and Thurkettle's situation is a clear example of the risk actors are taking to protect their livelihoods as the dispute continues. Today the union urged performers to "seriously consider the consequences" of working with game producers at this time, not only in undermining the strike but opening performers to AI misuse. In related news, HoYoverse announced actor Showtaro Morikubo will no longer voice Ifa in the Japanese version of Genshin Impact. In a social media announcement, the company stated "due to various circumstances" the actors has "been forced to withdraw from the project". While no further details have been given, Automaton reports fans are speculating it may be due to Morikubo appearing in a live reading back in 2024 called Inochigake no Shougen (Life-risking Testimonies), based on a book of the same name which contains testimonies of Uyghur people. The book likens the Chinese government's treatment of the Uyghur to the suppression and genocide of Jewish people by the Nazi party.

SAG-AFTRA actors' strike set to continue, as union warns of "alarming loopholes" for "AI abuse" in latest proposal

The SAG-AFTRA actors' strike is set to continue, as the union behind the walkout warned of "alarming loopholes" allowing for "AI abuse" in the latest proposal to end the industrial action, suggesting a deal is still far from close. Actors from the US union have been on strike since July last year, as the union negotiates with various video game companies on the Interactive Media Agreement. The biggest sticking point is protecting actors from AI abuse. In a message sent to members last night and shared with Eurogamer, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and chair of the Interactive Media Negotiating Committee Sarah Elmaleh provided an update on why the strike remains in effect. "Though progress has been made and agreements have been reached on certain provisions since we launched our strike last year, the last proposal the bargaining group made is still filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse," the message reads. "The union recently submitted a counter to this proposal that diligently addresses all of the loopholes and would result in a contract that offers the minimum protections our members need in order to maintain sustainable careers as video game performers. "The bargaining group would have you believe that we are close to reaching a deal. This is not the case. They also are hoping our members will turn on each other." The pair claim video game producers want to use all past performances, and any from outside the contract, without protections. It means actors could be told nothing about their voice being used as AI, offered nothing in payment, and left without a method to dispute it. Further, it's claimed producers want to use an AI replica to continue an actor's work during a future strike. And if consent is given to AI, producers can refuse to tell performers how it's been used. However, SAG-AFTRA has created an interim agreement, which has been signed by the producers of over 160 games. The pair claim earnings from these projects exceed that of non-struck games. "Those agreements contain the protections we have been asking the bargaining group for - terms that are clearly feasible and acceptable to a great number of game companies of all sizes, even as the bargaining companies resist," reads the message. What's more, while the strike is ongoing, employers are seeking other performers "they can exploit to fill those roles". The union urges performers to "seriously consider the consequences", not only in undermining the strike but opening performers to AI misuse. Earlier this month, members of the union held a strike picket outside WB Games in LA, as reported by Variety. Striking actors included Spider-Man voice actor Yuri Lowenthal. "It boils down to three things for me," he told Variety. "One is consent that you don't use the data that you've recorded from us to manufacture a performance that we had no say over. Two, compensation: if you're going to do something like that, then we deserve a piece of that. Otherwise, actors won't get paid anymore, and it's all over for us. And three: control, being able to track that sort of stuff and know where it's going." SAG-AFTRA's next strike picket will be on 18th March at Disney Character Voices in Burbank. At the start of the year, Mass Effect voice actor Jennifer Hale spoke to Eurogamer about why the strike remains ongoing. "It's 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."

8 months into their strike, videogame voice actors say the industry's latest proposal is 'filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse'

Progress has been made, but SAG-AFTRA says the two sides in the dispute are still far apart. The SAG-AFTRA union says "progress has been made" in negotiations over the videogame voice and motion capture actors strike that was called in July 2024, but warned that the most recent proposal submitted by the bargaining group is "filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse." The strike, which officially began on July 26, 2024, calls for "fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the AI use of [actors'] faces, voices, and bodies," SAG-AFTRA national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said at the time. The game makers negotiating with the union said they've offered "meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation," but the union feels otherwise, claiming game companies involved in the negotiations "refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their AI language." That clearly continues to be the case. SAG-AFTRA said in a new statement that the bargaining group representing game companies "would have you believe that we are close to reaching a deal," but insisted that's not actually the case. It also shared a chart of proposals to demonstrate "how far apart we remain on fundamental A.I. protections for all performers." "They want to use all past performances and any performance they can source from outside the contract without any of the protections being bargained at all," SAG-AFTRA said. "You could be told nothing about your replica being used, offered nothing in the way of payment, and you could do nothing about it. They want to be able to make your replica continue to work, as you, during a future strike, whether you like it or not. And once you've given your specific consent for how your replica can be used, they refuse to tell you what they actually did with it." The rise of AI is a major concern for voice and mocap actors in the game business, and rightly so. If game developers can reduce their budgets by using machine-generated voices rather than those of real people, it's a safe bet that they will. Whether generative AI can match a genuine human performance is a matter of debate, but there's no question that the technology is getting better, and sooner or later the difference may become indistinguishable -- or if it can be distinguished, a significant portion of the gaming audience simply may not care. We're not quite at that point yet, as the strong negative reaction to Sony's recently leaked work on an AI-powered Aloy makes clear. But that experimentation also makes clear that game makers are pursuing this sort of work, and while the very unnatural voice of that chatbot can be easily handwaved as a placeholder, it's work toward a goal, and those systems will get better. SAG-AFTRA warned that game companies are hoping union members "will turn on each other" as the strike drags out, but the game makers themselves are facing growing pressure: League of Legends studio Riot Games was recently forced to recycle old voiceovers for some of its English-language skins due to the strike, and more recently Bungie said Destiny 2's Heresy episode launched with some voice lines missing. In February, more than 30 members of Apex Legends' French cast -- not members of SAG-AFTRA, but you know France and its unions -- reportedly refused to sign a new contract because it required them to allow their work to be used to train generative AI systems. "With their previously signed projects dragging their way through the production pipeline, employers are feeling the squeeze from the strike, as SAG-AFTRA members who work in video games continue to stand together and refuse to work without adequate protections," the union wrote. "This is causing employers to seek other performers they can exploit to fill those roles, including those who don't typically perform in games. "If you're approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences. Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against AI misuse. And 'AI misuse' is just a nice way of saying that these companies want to use your performance to replace you -- without consent or compensation."

Game Companies Want To Be Able To Replace Actors With AI Replicas In The Next Strike, Union Says

Game actors have been on strike for over a year now, and while they say progress has been made in negotiations with companies like Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard, they also claim that publishers are refusing to budge on offering meaningful AI protections. A major sticking point in the ongoing fight is the use of "digital replicas" which could be used to replace game actors in the future, including during a future strike. "They want to use all past performances and any performance they can source from outside the contract without any of the protections being bargained at all," chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and negotiating chair Sarah Elmaleh wrote in a message to SAG-AFTRA members today. "You could be told nothing about your replica being used, offered nothing in the way of payment, and you could do nothing about it. They want to be able to make your replica continue to work, as you, during a future strike, whether you like it or not. And once you've given your specific consent for how your replica can be used, they refuse to tell you what they actually did with it." The internal communication said that while progress had been made on some issues, the guild was not close to a deal on AI protections. It linked to an extensive breakdown of current contract language proposals from both sides in which SAG-AFTRA accused game companies of wanting to retain overly broad loopholes that would effectively render the whole AI protection provision moot. One particular sticking point is a carveout that would let companies create digital replicas using any existing in-game performances from prior to the next contract, as well as any publicly available data like voice actors doing interviews on YouTube. "Digital Replica and Generative AI protections only apply to services provided after this Agreement is signed," reads the guild's chart. "Previous game work (including Sideletter 6 games) and un-covered work (anything available in public; YouTube, websites, etc.) are carved out with no transparency, consent or compensation. This makes the entire AI protection provision useless." SAG-AFTRA also accuses game companies of trying to get its members to turn on one another and of trying to "exploit" actors who don't typically perform in games to fill roles during the ongoing strike. "I was replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protection, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry," Zenless Zone Zero's Soldier 11 voice actor, Emeri Chase, wrote on social media today. Other game performers have also been replaced as the strike has continued, including actors for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. "My only concern is for my brand as a performer. Fans of the game have reached out to me because the lack of crediting [of the replacement actor] implies that it may still be me which unfairly represents my abilities as a performer," Zeke Alton, who plays William Peck, told Game Developer last year. "We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15% for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor's performance in other games," a spokesperson for the game company bargaining group, Audrey Cooling, said in a statement. "We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal." Meanwhile, story scenes in Destiny 2 have gone unvoiced in the new Heresy saga and other roles risk being recast at studios that don't sign onto interim agreements with AI protections. Earlier this week, an eerie internal Sony demo leaked online showing a version of Horizon Zero Dawn's Aloy voiced and controlled by AI. "If you're approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences," the guild told members. "Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against A.I. misuse. And 'A.I. misuse' is just a nice way of saying that these companies want to use your performance to replace you -- without consent or compensation."

Actors supporting AI protections didn't know they were being replaced in Zenless Zone Zero update 1.6: "I found out the role was recast today alongside all of you"

Zenless Zone Zero update 1.6 arrived yesterday, March 11, and alongside new characters like Anby: Soldier 0 and Pulchra, it brought new English voices and voice actors for two existing characters: Soldier 11 and Von Lycaon. The original actors behind those characters, respectively Emeri Chase and Nicholas Thurkettle, who've both vocally supported the ongoing SAG-AFTRA video game voice actor strike demanding AI protections, say they weren't notified of the recasting until patch notes were released at update time. "I knew that by withholding work it was possible I'd be replaced, though of course I hoped they would choose to leave her silent until I was able to return," Chase said in a tweet. "I found out the role was recast today alongside all of you." Thurkettle, who isn't a member of the SAG-AFTRA union, said in a tweet of his own: "Proxies - I'm learning about this as you are and I share your shock. Neither HoYoverse nor [recording studio] Sound Cadence has communicated with me since October. I've been fully available and recorded multiple voice jobs in that time. I am trying to learn more and absorb this news." "I'm not SAG but what game companies want to do with AI is an existential threat," Thurkettle added later, sharing Chase's thread. "I took a personal stand to ask for protection, and had to be willing to give up the best thing that's ever happened in my professional life. I stand by my choice." Chase clarified that "I was replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protections, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry." While the recasting apparently came abruptly, it's currently unclear what prior conversations Chase, Thurkettle, Sound Cadence, and HoYoverse may have had regarding their roles and work timeline before they were recast. Obviously, these actors knew their characters weren't being voiced, and Chase directly acknowledged that she knew she might be replaced, but it's less obvious how this was discussed behind the scenes. This gets into the somewhat complicated relationship between Zenless Zone Zero creator HoYoverse itself, the recording studios hired by HoYoverse to supply English voice over, and the actors hired by those studios to record, to say nothing of the varying contract restrictions of union and non-union voice actors on different projects under different studios. It's a bit of a mess, and a bit of a rock and hard place situation: actors want to work, but they also want to protect their work in the long run. The fact that this strike is still ongoing after many months, even with an interim agreement as patchwork, only complicates things further. Chase stressed the differences between projects. "Union projects that began work prior to the strike & non-union projects are not 'struck,'" she said. "But they also do not offer the Union-enforced AI rights we are fighting for. Many actors are choosing to voluntarily withhold work on these categories of projects because we feel it is the best way to support the Union's fight for the protections that are critical to our continued ability to create the art we love." Multiple HoYoverse games, including Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, have been missing English voice performances for several updates as a result of conflicting "recording arrangements" seemingly tied to actors, union or non-union, withholding work in a show of solidarity and support for long-term sustainability and protection against AI. As Thurkettle acknowledged earlier in March, "We share a deep love for our Wolf Thiren butler [Lycaon] and can't wait to hear him speak again." HoYoverse has seemingly elected to seek out alternate studios or arrangements with English actors not withholding work to fill the gaps, though the exact terms aren't clear. I've contacted HoYoverse and Sound Cadence for comment on the situation and their stance. Before the strike in 2023, HoYoverse said it supported Genshin Impact voice actors seeking alleged unpaid wages from another contracted studio, Formosa. "This wouldn't happen if the game was union," Paimon voice actor Corina Boettger notably said at the time. "Tell them to make the game SAG."

Resident Evil and Witcher 3 mocap director says video game industry layoffs have made it so "nothing is guaranteed," but AI won't be replacing real actors "anytime soon"

As the SAG-AFTRA strike continues, union negotiators warn that the latest proposal from the industry is "still filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse" The SAG-AFTRA video game actor strike continues, and one of the key points of the dispute remains protection against AI. Today, the union has sent out a message denouncing the potential of "AI abuse" in the latest contract negotiations, but in a recent interview at least one prominent figure in the performance capture world is confident that AI can't truly replace human performances "anytime soon." "There's no doubt that the industry is going through a challenging time," Steve Kniebihly, a performance capture director who worked on the likes of Heavy Rain, The Witcher 3's DLC packs, and Resident Evil Village, tells Entertainment Weekly. "Layoffs, budget cuts, and uncertainty have made it clear that nothing is guaranteed - even for successful studios. To me, what makes this job interesting in the first place is that weird, intangible chemistry between an actor and a director. It's the trust at the core of that relationship that pushes everyone to give the best of themselves and creates more than the sum of its parts. And I'm not going to get that from A.I. anytime soon." While Kniebihly is confident AI can't replace the quality performance you get from a real actor, the gaming industry seems keen to protect its ability to build AI simulacrums of human performers. SAG-AFTRA's negotiations with the game industry have been ongoing since the strike began in 2024, and the union is unhappy with what ground big publishers are willing to give here. "Though progress has been made and agreements have been reached on certain provisions since we launched our strike last year, the last proposal the bargaining group made is still filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse," SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told members in a message also shared with Eurogamer. "The union recently submitted a counter to this proposal that diligently addresses all of the loopholes and would result in a contract that offers the minimum protections our members need in order to maintain sustainable careers as video game performers." For their part, negotiators representing the game industry say they've offered "industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor's performance in other games." Some SAG-AFTRA actors work with at least some non-union contracts, but many have elected to suspend that work until the strike against the wider industry is resolved. Such is the case with the voice of Zenless Zone Zero's Soldier 11, Emeri Chase, who was recently replaced in the role, saying "I found out the role was recast today alongside all of you."

SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike: Union Says Latest AI Proposals From Studios Contain "Alarming Loopholes"

Walt Disney Animation Studios Production Workers Ratify First Contract SAG-AFTRA has been on strike against major video game studios for more than seven months, and the two sides don't seem to be particularly close to making a deal. That's the impression that negotiators for the performers' union gave to members in a message on Tuesday that warned that the companies' latest proposals contained "alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse" -- the very issue that prompted the union's current work stoppage in the first place. The memo, which contained a link to a chart showing the alleged gap between the union's and the employer's recent proposals on AI, claimed that the labor group is "frustratingly far apart" in its proposals from the video game studios, though the message said the studios might claim otherwise. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to a representative for the companies that are negotiating the Interactive Media Agreement with the union for comment. Those firms include Disney Character Voices, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. Games, Insomniac Games and others. In October, that bargaining group stated that the two sides had reached tentative agreements on "24 out of 25 proposals." SAG-AFTRA national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Interactive Media negotiating chair Sarah Elmaleh wrote to members on Tuesday that the employers' last proposals would allow studios to use union members' past performances and outside performances "without any of the protections being bargained at all." The negotiators also alleged that the studios' proposals would not require them to disclose how they used a digital replica after a performer has given their consent for how it can be used. With its chart, the union showed that it is attempting to negotiate specific AI language -- provisions, for instance, that end performers' consent for use of their digital replica during a strike, that require additional reports from the studios regarding their use of digital replicas and that necessitate employer disclosure of whether a performer's voice will be combined with any other voices in a digital replica or whether it will be used for any kind of generative AI chatbot. In its Tuesday message, the union also implored performers who don't usually work in video games to reject any jobs offered by struck companies. "If you're approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences. Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against A.I. misuse," the negotiators wrote. Nearly two years into their long-running negotiations with video game studios, SAG-AFTRA called a strike against those companies in July 2024. Negotiations have taken place in starts and stops ever since, with union performers occasionally picketing struck companies. The labor group's latest demonstration, at Disney Character Voices in Burbank, will take place on March 18.

Zenless Zone Zero Voice Actors Say They Found Out They Were Replaced When the Patch Notes Went Live - IGN

Two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors discovered they had been replaced when the game's patch notes went live, they have claimed, in the latest casualty of the battle for generative AI protections. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' (SAG-AFTRA) ongoing dispute with the video game industry revolves around the use of generative AI to replicate voice actor performances. ZZZ, developed by Genshin Impact company HoYoverse, is not subject to the strike because it was in development before July 25, 2024, when the strike began. However, voice actors may choose not to sign new contracts in solidarity with striking union members, or in the absence of a SAG Interim Agreement. Emeri Chase -- who portrays Soldier 11 -- said they were "replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protection, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry." Nicholas Thurkettle, who played Lycaon, has been similarly replaced, although Thurkettle is not a union member. "I'd like to clarify that there's a difference between being 'struck' and not being on an Interim Agreement," Chase explained in a thread on Bluesky (thanks, Eurogamer). "Union projects that began work prior to the strike and non-union projects are not 'struck.' But they also do not offer the Union-enforced AI rights we are fighting for. "Many actors are choosing to voluntarily withhold work on these categories of projects because we feel it is the best way to support the union's fight for the protections that are critical to our continued ability to create the art we love." Chase added that they knew "that by withholding work it was possible" they'd be replaced, but had "hoped [developer HoYoVerse] would choose to leave her silent until I was able to return." "I found out the role was recast today alongside all of you," Chase said, while Thurkettle stated: "I'm learning about this as you are, and I share your shock. Neither HoYoverse nor Sound Cadence has communicated with me since October. I've been fully available and recorded multiple voice jobs in that time. "I'm not SAG but what game companies want to do with AI is an existential threat. I took a personal stand to ask for protection, and had to be willing to give up the best thing that's ever happened in my professional life. I stand by my choice." IGN has asked HoYoVerse for comment. In a similar case from December, Activision confirmed it had recast some members of the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 cast after fans noticed much-loved Zombies characters with new voices in-game. The company issued a statement to Game Developer admitting characters in Black Ops 6's Zombies mode were recast amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Zombies characters William Peck (Zeke Alton) and Samantha Maxis (Julie Nathanson) are currently voiced by new, unknown actors. Alton told Game Developer that he took no issue with Activision's actions with Peck, but expressed concern "for my brand as a performer." "Fans of the game have reached out to me because the lack of crediting [of the replacement actor] implies that it may still be me which unfairly represents my abilities as a performer," Alton said at the time. For more on how the strike has, and will continue to, affect the games you play, check out our feature from last year, What the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Strike Means for Gamers.

SAG-AFTRA Says It's Still 'Frustratingly Far Apart' From Games Industry Bargaining Group on AI Protections - IGN

The Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has issued an update to its members on the status of negotiations over video game actor AI protections, saying that while progress has been made, it is still "frustratingly far apart" with the industry bargaining group on key issues. The guild has shared a chart demonstrating the differences between its own proposals and those of the games industry bargaining group, which consists of representatives from most major AAA gaming companies. Per SAG-AFTRA's comparison, the following issues remain at large: That's a long list, but the chart does make clear that the two groups have come to tentative agreements on a number of other issues, such as bonus pay, dispute resolution, certain elements of minimum compensation, requirement for consent, certain disclosures made to performers, and more. But SAG-AFTRA's letter to members expresses concern that the bargaining employers are incorrectly conveying to members that the two groups are close to a deal, when SAG-AFTRA does not believe they are. As SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland wrote to members: With their previously signed projects dragging their way through the production pipeline, employers are feeling the squeeze from the strike, as SAG-AFTRA members who work in video games continue to stand together and refuse to work without adequate protections. This is causing employers to seek other performers they can exploit to fill those roles, including those who don't typically perform in games. If you're approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences. Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against A.I. misuse. And "A.I. misuse" is just a nice way of saying that these companies want to use your performance to replace you -- without consent or compensation. In response, Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game industry bargaining group, issued the following statement: We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15% for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor's performance in other games. We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal. The SAG-AFTRA video game strike has been going on for eight months now, and was instigated specifically due to a lack of agreement on AI provisions while 24 out of 25 other contract proposals had been affirmed by both sides. While at first it was difficult to tell exactly how it would affect games actually in our hands, we're starting to see the impacts visibly across the industry. Players have reported that a number of ongoing games such as Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft appear to have certain NPCs left unvoiced in otherwise voiced scenes, likely due to the strike. 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. And just today, two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors revealed that they learned they'd been replaced when they saw the game's latest patch notes.