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SAG-AFTRA video game staff have been in negotiations with employers since October 2022 and at the moment are on strike. A vote was taken this past September and members agreed with a 98.32% majority to go on strike if all demands weren’t met by a certain date, and following one other vote this week, as of July 26, the SAG-AFTRA video game staff at the moment are on strike. The important thing sticking point is lacking details within the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA) to adequately protect performers and other staff in video games from the misuse of A.I., in plain, enforceable language.
“We’re not going to consent to a contract that enables firms to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these firms get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we might be here, able to negotiate,”
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher
Per SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland (via Press Release):
“The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profit annually. The driving force behind that success is the creative individuals who design and create those games. That features the SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life, they usually deserve and demand the identical fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the appropriate of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies. Frankly, it’s stunning that these video game studios haven’t learned anything from the teachings of last 12 months – that our members can and can rise up and demand fair and equitable treatment with respect to A.I., and the general public supports us in that.”
The strike mirrors the one which effectively shut down Hollywood in 2023. This time around the businesses who publish or develop the vast majority of the most important titles within the industry are the goal and while nearly all the items having been discussed reached mutual agreement the usage of AI brought the whole lot to a standstill. Any company wanting to make use of a SAG-AFTRA member to make a video must now sign a trio of agreements to guard its members until an official all-encompassing contract is agreed upon.
Corporations names in Press Release:
- Activision Productions Inc.
- Blindlight LLC
- Disney Character Voices Inc.
- Electronic Arts Productions Inc.
- Formosa Interactive LLC
- Insomniac Games Inc
- Llama Productions LLC
- Take 2 Productions Inc.
- VoiceWorks Productions Inc.
- WB Games Inc.
A spokesperson for the above video games bargaining group has issued a press release regarding the present strike, expressing their disappointment and supporting the IMA because it stands. In keeping with the statement, 24 out of 25 proposals were agreed upon.
Per Audrey Cooling (via VGC):
- “We’re disenchanted the union has chosen to walk away once we are so near a deal, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations.”
- “We’ve got already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions.”
- “Our offer is directly aware of SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers working under the IMA.”
- “These terms are among the many strongest within the entertainment industry.”
