Hollywood’s video game performers are set to strike on Thursday, marking another halt in the entertainment industry after failed contract negotiations with major game studios over artificial intelligence protections. This will be the second strike for video game voice actors and motion capture performers under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday.
After nearly two years of talks with gaming giants like Activision, Warner Bros., and Disney, disagreements remain over the regulation of generative AI in a new interactive media agreement.
SAG-AFTRA negotiators claim progress in areas like wages and job safety, but AI remains a divisive issue. According to Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, the studios have offered AI protections. However, SAG-AFTRA's negotiating committee argues that the studios' definition of a "performer" is critical to understanding who is protected. SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez highlighted that the industry does not always recognize everyone rendering movement performance as a performer covered by the collective bargaining agreement, sometimes treating these performances as mere "data."
Without proper safeguards, game companies could use AI to replicate actors’ voices or create digital replicas without consent or fair compensation. Rodriguez emphasized that striking is a last resort after exhausting all other options. Meanwhile, Cooling expressed disappointment over the union's decision to strike despite being close to a deal, stating that the studios are prepared to resume negotiations.
Actor Andi Norris pointed out that stunt and creature performers would still be at risk under the game companies’ current offer, which doesn't cover all varieties of character performances. The global video game industry, generating over $100 billion annually, relies on the creativity and efforts of these performers, SAG-AFTRA noted.
Last year, union members voted to authorize a strike, driven by concerns over AI similar to those that fueled last year’s film and television strikes. The previous interactive contract, which expired in November 2022, lacked AI protections but did secure bonus compensation for voice and performance capture artists after an 11-month strike in 2016. The current agreement covers over 2,500 off-camera and on-camera performers, including voiceover artists, motion capture performers, stunt coordinators, singers, dancers, puppeteers, and background performers.
In February, SAG-AFTRA established a separate contract for independent and lower-budget video game projects, which includes some AI protections rejected by larger industry players. Games under these tiered-budget agreements are not part of the strike.
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