Union for Hollywood’s Video Game Performers Reaches Tentative Contract

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached a tentative contract with several video game companies, potentially bringing an end to a nearly year-long strike related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Members of SAG-AFTRA went on strike in July 2024 after negotiations with major game industry players stalled over AI protections. The union expressed concerns that the unregulated use of AI posed a significant threat to performers in the video game industry, as it could lead to the creation of convincing digital replicas of their voices and likenesses without consent.

SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, stated, “Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails to defend performers’ livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains.”

The union had been in talks with a bargaining group representing various video game companies, including divisions of Activision and Electronic Arts. Some of the companies involved in the negotiations were Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.

While a strike suspension agreement is expected to be finalized soon, union members will continue to strike until an agreement is reached. The tentative contract deal must be approved by the National Board and ratified by the union membership.

This strike follows a previous strike by video game performers in October 2016, which resulted in a tentative deal being reached 11 months later in September 2017. That strike led to the establishment of a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists.

As the negotiations progress and the strike potentially comes to an end, it is a crucial time for the video game industry and its performers. The integration of AI in video game development continues to raise important questions about the protection of performers’ rights and livelihoods in an increasingly digital landscape.