Video Game Performers Reach Agreement with 80 Companies on AI Terms, Ending Strike
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On Thu, 5 Sept, 12:08 AM UTC
10 Sources
10 Sources
[1]
Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms
LOS ANGELES -- After striking for over a month, video game performers have reached agreements with 80 games that have signed interim or tiered budget agreements with the performers' union and accepted the artificial intelligence provisions they have been seeking. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists began striking in July after negotiations with game industry giants that began more than a year and a half ago came to a halt over AI protections. Union leaders say game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. SAG-AFTRA announced the agreements with the 80 individual video games on Thursday. Performers impacted by the work stoppage can now work on those projects. The strike against other major video game publishers, including Disney and Warner Bros.' game companies and Electronic Arts Productions Inc., will continue. The interim agreement secures wage improvements, protections around "exploitative uses" of artificial intelligence and safety precautions that account for the strain of physical performances, as well as vocal stress. The tiered budget agreement aims to make working with union talent more feasible for independent game developers or smaller-budget projects while also providing performers the protections under the interim agreement. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, said in a statement that companies signing the agreements are "helping to preserve the human art, ingenuity and creativity that fuels interactive storytelling." "These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry," Crabtree-Ireland continued. "The many companies that are happy to agree to our AI terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses." The union announced Wednesday that game development studio Lightspeed L.A. has agreed to produce current and future games, including the popular title "Last Sentinel," under the union's interim agreement, meaning it can also work with union talent as the strike persists.
[2]
Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After striking for over a month, video game performers have reached agreements with 80 games that have signed interim or tiered budget agreements with the performers' union and accepted the artificial intelligence provisions they have been seeking. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists began striking in July after negotiations with game industry giants that began more than a year and a half ago came to a halt over AI protections. Union leaders say game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. SAG-AFTRA announced the agreements with the 80 individual video games on Thursday. Performers impacted by the work stoppage can now work on those projects. The strike against other major video game publishers, including Disney and Warner Bros.' game companies and Electronic Arts Productions Inc., will continue. The interim agreement secures wage improvements, protections around "exploitative uses" of artificial intelligence and safety precautions that account for the strain of physical performances, as well as vocal stress. The tiered budget agreement aims to make working with union talent more feasible for independent game developers or smaller-budget projects while also providing performers the protections under the interim agreement. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, said in a statement that companies signing the agreements are "helping to preserve the human art, ingenuity and creativity that fuels interactive storytelling." "These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry," Crabtree-Ireland continued. "The many companies that are happy to agree to our AI terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses." The union announced Wednesday that game development studio Lightspeed L.A. has agreed to produce current and future games, including the popular title "Last Sentinel," under the union's interim agreement, meaning it can also work with union talent as the strike persists.
[3]
Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After striking for over a month, video game performers have reached agreements with 80 games that have signed interim or tiered budget agreements with the performers' union and accepted the artificial intelligence provisions they have been seeking. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists began striking in July after negotiations with game industry giants that began more than a year and a half ago came to a halt over AI protections. Union leaders say game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. SAG-AFTRA announced the agreements with the 80 individual video games on Thursday. Performers impacted by the work stoppage can now work on those projects. The strike against other major video game publishers, including Disney and Warner Bros.' game companies and Electronic Arts Productions Inc., will continue. The interim agreement secures wage improvements, protections around "exploitative uses" of artificial intelligence and safety precautions that account for the strain of physical performances, as well as vocal stress. The tiered budget agreement aims to make working with union talent more feasible for independent game developers or smaller-budget projects while also providing performers the protections under the interim agreement. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, said in a statement that companies signing the agreements are "helping to preserve the human art, ingenuity and creativity that fuels interactive storytelling." "These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry," Crabtree-Ireland continued. "The many companies that are happy to agree to our AI terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses." The union announced Wednesday that game development studio Lightspeed L.A. has agreed to produce current and future games, including the popular title "Last Sentinel," under the union's interim agreement, meaning it can also work with union talent as the strike persists.
[4]
Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After striking for over a month, video game performers have reached agreements with 80 games that have signed interim or tiered budget agreements with the performers' union and accepted the artificial intelligence provisions they have been seeking. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists began striking in July after negotiations with game industry giants that began more than a year and a half ago came to a halt over AI protections. Union leaders say game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. SAG-AFTRA announced the agreements with the 80 individual video games on Thursday. Performers impacted by the work stoppage can now work on those projects. The strike against other major video game publishers, including Disney and Warner Bros.' game companies and Electronic Arts Productions Inc, will continue. The interim agreement secures wage improvements, protections around "exploitative uses" of artificial intelligence and safety precautions that account for the strain of physical performances, as well as vocal stress. The tiered budget agreement aims to make working with union talent more feasible for independent game developers or smaller-budget projects while also providing performers the protections under the interim agreement. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, said in a statement that companies signing the agreements are "helping to preserve the human art, ingenuity and creativity that fuels interactive storytelling." "These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry," Crabtree-Ireland continued. "The many companies that are happy to agree to our AI terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses." The union announced Wednesday that game development studio Lightspeed LA has agreed to produce current and future games, including the popular title Last Sentinel, under the union's interim agreement, meaning it can also work with union talent as the strike persists.
[5]
Video Game Performers Reach Agreement With 80 Video Games on AI Terms
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After striking for over a month, video game performers have reached agreements with 80 games that have signed interim or tiered budget agreements with the performers' union and accepted the artificial intelligence provisions they have been seeking. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists began striking in July after negotiations with game industry giants that began more than a year and a half ago came to a halt over AI protections. Union leaders say game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. SAG-AFTRA announced the agreements with the 80 individual video games on Thursday. Performers impacted by the work stoppage can now work on those projects. The strike against other major video game publishers, including Disney and Warner Bros.' game companies and Electronic Arts Productions Inc., will continue. The interim agreement secures wage improvements, protections around "exploitative uses" of artificial intelligence and safety precautions that account for the strain of physical performances, as well as vocal stress. The tiered budget agreement aims to make working with union talent more feasible for independent game developers or smaller-budget projects while also providing performers the protections under the interim agreement. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, said in a statement that companies signing the agreements are "helping to preserve the human art, ingenuity and creativity that fuels interactive storytelling." "These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry," Crabtree-Ireland continued. "The many companies that are happy to agree to our AI terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses." The union announced Wednesday that game development studio Lightspeed L.A. has agreed to produce current and future games, including the popular title "Last Sentinel," under the union's interim agreement, meaning it can also work with union talent as the strike persists. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
[6]
Voice Actor Strike Makes Progress as Last Sentinel Dev Signs AI Protection Agreement - IGN
The video game voice actor strike has made progress as Last Sentinel developer Lightspeed LA has signed the union's agreement promising better rights for actors and protections against artificial intelligence. The Screen Actors Guild -- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced Lightspeed LA's signing of the SAG-AFTRA Interim Interactive Media Agreement, which "gives the company access to SAG-AFTRA members under fair and equitable conditions." The strike began on July 26, 2024 with aims to improve the working conditions of voice actors and highlight their concerns regarding AI. The strike, and interim agreement signed by Lightspeed LA, therefore features AI as a key sticking point. "[The agreement] permits members to work during the video game strike and reflects the union's bedrock proposal requirements, which include common-sense AI protections," SAG-AFTRA said. Lightspeed LA general manager Steve Martin added that the studio "has always recognized and valued the irreplaceable role of talent, which injects creativity, innovation, and the human touch into video games. Supporting our cast is the right thing to do and there was never any hesitation to consider the performer protections that anchor this agreement." Myriad voice actors have commented on the threat of AI already, including Metal Gear Solid and Mass Effect actress Jennifer Hale. "The truth is, AI is just a tool like a hammer," she said. "If I take my hammer, I could build you a house. I can also take that same hammer and I can smash your skin and destroy who you are." Hale revealed in October 2023 she was paid just $1,200 for her role as Naomi Hunter in the original Metal Gear Solid, a game which eventually grossed $176 million for publisher Konami (and is still making the company money through myriad re-releases). The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt lead Doug Cockle similarly expressed caution and frustration at the growing presence of AI within the video game industry, calling it "inevitable" but "dangerous." Cissy Jones, a voice actor known for her roles in Disney's Owl House, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Shin Megami Tensei 5, and more, has started a company called Morpheme.ai to let voice actors embrace AI and gain control of their own voices going forward. Voice actors have previously called out AI-generated explicit Skyrim mods, and Assassin's Creed Syndicate voice actress Victoria Atkin called AI-generated mods the "invisible enemy we're fighting right now" after discovering her voice was used by cloning software. Paul Eiding, the voice actor behind Colonel Campbell in the Metal Gear Solid series, also condemned its use. Correction: A previous version of this story asserted that Lightspeed LA was the first to sign the agreement. It has been updated to reflect that other studios have also signed the agreement.
[7]
SAG-AFTRA union announces deal for AI protections on 80 video games
GamesBeat Next is connecting the next generation of video game leaders. And you can join us, coming up October 28th and 29th in San Francisco! Take advantage of our buy one, get one free pass offer. Sale ends this Friday, August 16th. Join us by registering here. Eighty games have signed SAG-AFTRA's tiered-budget or interim agreements, a sign that the entertainment union said proves that its provisions -- which include common sense AI protections -- are fair and achievable. The union has been on strike against the major game developers since July, and these interim and tiered agreements provide employment opportunities to members during the work stoppage. This deal will allow members to work, but it does not mean the strike is completely over. The actual AI protections were also not described in any detail yet. Today's announcement follows Wednesday's news that Lightspeed L.A. has agreed to produce current and future games, including Last Sentinel, under the SAG-AFTRA Interim Interactive Media Agreement. Various game developers who have signed tiered-budget or interim video game agreements also offered statements of support. "Little Bat Games is proud to work with SAG-AFTRA in ensuring that top-tier voice talent is appropriately compensated and protected," the game company said in a statement. "As a small studio working on a game about psychology, we always advocate protecting human interests and appreciate SAG-AFTRA's help to keep the industry accountable." "I support SAG-AFTRA actors during this strike and hope that A.I. protections are secured," said developer Francisco Gonzalez. Jeremy Stieglitz, development director at Studio Wildcard said, "Studio Wildcard partners with production company Noah Protocol for all of its SAG-AFTRA member videogame voice recordings, in ARK Survival Evolved and beyond. SAG-AFTRA has enabled us to work with top-tier talent using standardized union agreements, which has been a huge benefit to the quality and consistency of voicework in our games." In addition, some of the games that fall outside the strike order have voluntarily signed on to the agreements, demonstrating a clear demand for SAG-AFTRA talent and a willingness to protect that talent. Included among those signatories are games that have finished production and have signed the Interim Agreement which protects past and future performances from unregulated AI use. SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh said, "This labor action is about creating work with sufficient A.I. protections. The sheer volume of companies that have signed SAG-AFTRA agreements demonstrates how reasonable those protections are. We are thrilled for our actors to continue working under fair union contracts with companies who know how invaluable our performers are to their games." SAG-AFTRA's National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement, "We applaud those video game companies signing our tiered-budget and interim agreements. Not only are they doing the right thing by their workers, they're also helping to preserve the human art, ingenuity and creativity that fuels interactive storytelling. These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry. The many companies that are happy to agree to our A.I. terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses." The SAG-AFTRA video game strike started on July 26, after more than 18 months of negotiations ended without a deal. The employers rebuffed the union's proposals for consent, compensation and transparency around the use of A.I., and instead countered with loophole-filled language that negated the protections they claimed to offer.
[8]
SAG-AFTRA Reaches Interim Agreement on AI Protections With 80 Video Games
"We applaud those video game companies signing our tiered-budget and interim agreement," read a statement from Crabtree-Ireland. "Not only are they doing the right thing by their workers, they're also helping to preserve the human art, ingenuity and creativity that fuels interactive storytelling." "These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry," Crabtree-Ireland continued. "The many companies that are happy to agree to our A.I. terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses." Although not all the video game companies that have agreed were named, representatives from Little Bat Games and Studio Wildcard issued statements in support of the agreement. The video game strike started on July 26 following 18 months of negotiations. The video game companies impacted by the work stoppage include Insomniac Games Inc., WB Games Inc., Epic Games Inc., Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and Disney Character Voices Inc. On Wednesday, the guild announced that it had reached an agreement with video game developer Lightspeed L.A. to work under the Interim Interactive Media Agreement. The Interactive Media Agreement, which protects about 2,600 voice and motion capture performers in the video game industry, expired in November 2022. In the latest contract negotiations, video game performers are seeking consent for the creation of AI replicas, or the use of their voice and likeness using AI, and compensation for use.
[9]
SAG-AFTRA Inks Video Game Deal With 'Last Sentinel' Maker During Strike Against Major Studios
Production Assistants Launch Ambitious Bid for Unionization With LiUNA As SAG-AFTRA's video game strike continues, the AAA developer Lightspeed LA has signed an interim agreement with the labor group that will allow it to continue working with union performers. By signing the pact, the five-year-old developer can finish its work on its first project, the dystopian open-world game Last Sentinel, and work with SAG-AFTRA performers on future titles. Lightspeed LA is a division of Lightspeed Studios, behind Undawn, Titans: Last Stand and Code: To Jin Yong. The union's interim agreement, reflecting its demands in the ongoing stalemate with major video game developers, requires performers to consent to any use of AI at particular stages and be paid for that usage. Employers must tell an actor either at an audition or job offer if they are seeking to create a "digital replica" of that person, for instance, and get a greenlight from the performer and negotiate pay before that digital replica is used. The agreement also provides for a wage increase of 7 percent effective July 26 and 7.64 percent starting Nov. 7 and a health and retirement contribution rate increase of 17 percent. "Lightspeed L.A. has always recognized and valued the irreplaceable role of talent, which injects creativity, innovation, and the human touch into video games," Lightspeed LA general manager Steve Martin said in a statement. "Supporting our cast is the right thing to do and there was never any hesitation to consider the performer protections that anchor this agreement." SAG-AFTRA called its strike against firms including Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. Games, Insomniac Games and Disney Character Voices on July 25.
[10]
Lightspeed L.A. reaches agreement with SAG-AFTRA on AI Protections
GamesBeat Next is connecting the next generation of video game leaders. And you can join us, coming up October 28th and 29th in San Francisco! Take advantage of our buy one, get one free pass offer. Sale ends this Friday, August 16th. Join us by registering here. Lightspeed L.A., a new game development studio under Tencent's Lightspeed & Quantum Studio group, has inked an agreement with the Screen Actors Guild, known as SAG-AFTRA, on implementing AI protections for their upcoming games. The agreement, reached today after negotiations between Lightspeed L.A. and SAG-AFTRA representatives, lets Lightspeed utilize and hire union actors for performances within Lightspeed's in-development and future games. This permits Lightspeed L.A. to continue using union workers even if SAG-AFTRA itself is on strike, which the guild voted to do just over a month ago. Said strike is over the use of generative AI in video game products, which threatens to replace work done by actors. Lightspeed L.A. is implementing protections that the union had asked for, but the parties are currently not making specifics public beyond that a deal has been made. Lightspeed L.A. is currently working on Last Sentinel, a neo-futuristic apocalyptic game that -- with a small hint of irony -- takes place against the backdrop of technology run amok. Last Sentinel was revealed for the first time with a CG trailer at The Game Awards in 2023. The deal struck with SAG-AFTRA applies to Last Sentinel and future projects from the studio as well.
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SAG-AFTRA, the union representing video game performers, has reached an agreement with 80 video game companies on AI usage and other terms. This tentative deal ends a strike that began on September 25, 2023, marking a significant development in the entertainment industry's ongoing negotiations with AI technology.
Strike Conclusion and Agreement Overview
After a nearly six-month-long strike, SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative agreement with 80 video game companies, including industry giants like Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Take 2 Productions 1. The strike, which began on September 25, 2023, primarily focused on the use of artificial intelligence in video game production and fair compensation for performers 2.
Key Terms of the Agreement
The new three-year contract includes several significant provisions:
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AI Protections: The agreement requires informed consent and compensation for the creation and use of digital replicas of performers 3.
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Wage Increases: Performers will receive an immediate 7.5% pay increase upon ratification, followed by additional 3% increases in both the second and third years of the contract 4.
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Vocal Stress Protections: The deal includes provisions to protect performers from vocal stress during demanding recording sessions 1.
Impact on the Industry
This agreement is seen as a significant victory for performers in the video game industry. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher emphasized the importance of the deal, stating, "This agreement represents a crucial step forward for AI protections in the entertainment industry" 5.
Broader Context of AI in Entertainment
The video game performers' strike and subsequent agreement come amid growing concerns about AI's role in various entertainment sectors. This deal follows a similar agreement reached by SAG-AFTRA with major Hollywood studios in November 2023, which also addressed AI usage 2.
Next Steps
While the agreement has been reached, it still requires ratification by the union's members. The SAG-AFTRA National Board will review the contract on Friday, after which it will be sent to members for a ratification vote 3.
Industry Reaction
The video game industry has largely welcomed the agreement. Many companies view it as a balanced approach that allows for technological innovation while protecting performers' rights. The Interactive Entertainment Agents Association, representing many video game performers, expressed satisfaction with the terms, particularly the AI protections 4.
This landmark agreement sets a precedent for how the entertainment industry might navigate the integration of AI technology while safeguarding the interests of creative professionals. As the video game industry continues to evolve, this deal may serve as a model for future negotiations in other sectors grappling with similar AI-related challenges.
Reference
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