Video Game Actors Inch Closer to Strike as AI Negotiations Falter

SAG-AFTRA video game performers edge closer to strike as AI negotiations stall: SAG-AFTRA announced that its national board has granted executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland the authority to call a strike if a settlement cannot be reached with video game companies, as negotiations stall over artificial intelligence terms in the Interactive Media Agreement contract.

Ongoing negotiations and key issues: The union has been negotiating the contract, which covers about 2,600 voice and motion-capture performers in the video game industry, for nearly a year:

• The contract expired in November 2022, and in September 2023, more than 30,000 union members voted 98% in favor of authorizing a strike.
• Video game performers are seeking a contract that requires producers to obtain their consent before reproducing their voices or likeness with AI, as well as compensation when AI is used to replicate their performances.
• Other demands include wage increases to keep up with inflation, more rest time, and set medics for stunts and hazardous jobs.

SAG-AFTRA’s stance and previous strike: Crabtree-Ireland emphasized the union’s unwavering commitment to its membership and pressured video game producers to offer a deal that includes significant gains for performers, particularly in the realm of AI.

• The union contends that game performers are especially vulnerable to AI because many specialize in voice-over work.
• The last time video game actors went on strike was in October 2016.

Parallels with the 2023 TV and movie actors’ strike: The latest move by SAG-AFTRA comes about a year after TV and movie actors staged a 118-day strike, in which AI was also a major sticking point in the labor dispute.

Broader implications: The potential video game performers’ strike highlights the ongoing challenges and concerns surrounding AI in the entertainment industry, as unions push for greater protections and compensation for their members in the face of rapidly advancing technology. The outcome of these negotiations could set important precedents for how AI is addressed in future labor contracts across various sectors of the entertainment business.