Hollywood’s video game actors and motion capture performers are striking after protracted negotiations over artificial intelligence safeguards reached an impasse. This marks the second strike under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), scheduled to begin at Friday.
The strike follows nearly two years of discussions with major gaming studios like Activision, Warner Bros, and Walt Disney Co. While SAG-AFTRA has achieved improvements in wages and job safety, a deal on AI protections remains elusive. The union contends that without clear regulations, studios could exploit AI to replicate an actor’s voice or likeness without proper consent or compensation.
Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA’s president, stated, “Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live – and work – with, we will be here, ready to negotiate.”
The video game industry, which generates over $100 billion annually, is driven by the talents of these performers, according to the union. “Eighteen months of negotiations have shown us that our employers are not interested in fair, reasonable AI protections, but rather flagrant exploitation,” said Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the interactive media agreement negotiating committee.
Despite an earlier vote authorizing a strike, the current standoff reflects broader concerns similar to those that sparked last year’s film and television strikes. The last contract, which expired in November 2022, failed to address AI issues but secured bonus structures for voice and performance capture artists after an 11-month strike beginning in October 2016.
SAG-AFTRA’s interactive media agreement covers over 2,500 performers in various roles, including voiceover, motion capture, stunts, and more. In February, the union introduced a separate contract for indie and lower-budget games that includes some AI protections rejected by major studios.
