SAG-AFTRA Strikes Video Game Companies Over AI and Wage Demands

SAG-AFTRA Strikes Again: Video Game Companies in Their Crosshairs

On Thursday, the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union announced a significant strike against major video game companies that utilize actors’ voices and likenesses in their productions. This move mirrors the union’s larger strike against television and film studios that occurred last year. The strike is set to commence at 12:01 a.m. Pacific time on Friday, following more than 18 months of negotiations that have yielded no agreement.

During the duration of this strike, the union’s 160,000 members will cease all acting work for video games produced by a coalition of companies, including heavyweights like Activision Blizzard, WB Games, and Electronic Arts, among others. The interactive-media agreement that governed these relationships expired in November 2022, and the union opted to terminate an extension last summer.

The demands brought forward by SAG-AFTRA closely resemble those made during the previous strike against the film and television sectors: enhanced wages and protective measures against the encroachment of artificial intelligence. Union president Fran Drescher emphasized the resolve of the union, stating, “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough.”

Additionally, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s executive director and chief negotiator, expressed disappointment over the video game studios’ apparent lack of learning from last year’s events. He remarked, “Frankly, it’s stunning that these video game studios haven’t learned anything from the lessons of the last year — that our members can and will stand up and demand fair and equitable treatment with respect to A.I.”

The union’s demands go beyond wages and A.I. protections; they also include calls for improved safety protocols on set, such as ensuring that a medic is present during recordings.

In response, the consortium of companies involved expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to strike. “We are disappointed the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations,” they stated. “Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful A.I. protections.” They further noted, “We have already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions.”

This is not the first time the union has taken a stand against video game companies; they last went on strike in 2016, a labor action that lasted nearly a year.

Video games have increasingly featured prominent actors over the years. For instance, Keanu Reeves lent his talent to the dystopian sci-fi title Cyberpunk 2077, while Samuel L. Jackson voiced a character in the renowned Grand Theft Auto series. However, many video games serve as an entry point for lesser-known actors seeking to break into voice acting.

The recent strike by SAG-AFTRA, combined with a separate work stoppage by the Writers Guild of America, which represents screenwriters, brought Hollywood’s production lines to a grinding halt for six months last year. However, it’s important to note that blockbuster video games typically require significantly longer development times compared to movies or television shows. Consequently, the effects of this strike may not be felt by consumers for years to come, and even then, the overall disruption to the industry could be minimal. Despite the lengthy duration of the 2016 strike, established video game franchises were largely unaffected.