Just shy of a year after Hollywood actors went on strike against the television and motion picture industries, SAG-AFTRA is headed back to the picket lines.
The union has called a strike against major video game companies after talks surrounding voice and motion capture actors’ concerns about artificial intelligence have reached an impasse. Some 35,000 members of the union authorized the strike last September (with 98% voting for the potential work action), but negotiations had continued until this point.
Players are wary of the strike, no doubt remembering the disruption it had on more traditional entertainment mediums recently. Here’s what you need to know.
Will the strike mean delays for video games?
Ultimately, that will depend on how long the strike lasts, of course. A quick resolution means gamers won’t see any noticeable timeline impact to titles. If the strike goes on for as long as the actors’ strike against Hollywood studios and streaming giants did, it could push back some AAA games. The upside for players, though, is most of those that would be impacted are likely still unannounced, so they won’t realize the titles were delayed.
What companies is SAG-AFTRA striking against?
The union is targeting 10 companies:
- 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.
- VoiceWorks Productions Inc.
- WB Games Inc.
What’s the issue here?
Artificial intelligence is once again a sticking point. The union and publishers have been unable to find common ground on protections for performers regarding AI in the language of contracts. Given how effectively AI can mimic famous voices, some voice actors fear the characters they helped create could continue on without their input.
“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough,” said SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher in a statement. “When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live—and work—with, we will be here, ready to negotiate.”
A spokesperson for the game companies, in a statement, replied, “Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections that include requiring consent and fair compensation to all performers.”
Will actors on film and television shows go back out on strike now?
No. They’re under a separate contract and will not go on strike, nor will other SAG-AFTRA members who have deals in place with their employers, such as NPR.
Wait, is Grand Theft Auto VI going to be even further delayed because of this strike?
Not immediately. Actors and other union members who are already under contract and working on games in development are permitted to continue work during the strike without any sort of union discipline. Live-service games, like Fortnite, are also okay to continue working on.
Should the strike last more than 60 days, though, SAG-AFTRA would require members working on in-production games to join the picket line.
Are there workarounds in place to let video game actors continue to work?
Yes. While Hollywood studios negotiated as a single body via the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, video game publishers have the option to reach their own deals. In a note to investors, Michael Pachter of Wedbush explained that “covered union members are permitted to work for any publisher or developer who commits to AI guarantees, higher wages, enhanced safety for performance capture, and agreeing that performance capture is covered. This means that individual game studios can reach agreements with the union and can proceed without an overarching master agreement in place.”
Will this strike impact every game?
Not even close. While SAG-AFTRA members are often part of major titles, like GTA, The Last of Us, or Spider-Man, the vast majority of games do not use the services of union members as part of their creative process. And mobile games and those created on Roblox almost never do. There will be plenty of new titles for people to enjoy, regardless of how long this continues.