SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers Strike To Secure AI Protections

As of July 26, 2024 at 12:01 AM, all SAG-AFTRA members who perform in video games are officially on strike. Despite months of negotiations to reach a fair deal, video game companies have refused all efforts to secure fair AI protections for performers. Just days after the SAG-AFTRA National Board gave the go-ahead, a strike impacting the entire video game industry will go into effect.

SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers Strike To Secure AI Protections 

Eight months after a 118-day SAG-AFTRA strike secured AI protections for Hollywood performers, a new strike begins on behalf of all members who work in video games. After a unanimous vote by the SAG-AFTRA National Board on July 20, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland was given the power to call for a strike. Once again, the sticking point is a lack of AI protections as the bargaining group representing top video game studios has refused to budge.

“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members," said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. "Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate."

After negotiations to secure a fair contract began in October 2022, the initial strike authorization came on September 24, 2023. While the SAG-AFTRA strike against the AMPTP was still ongoing, membership overwhelming delivered a 98.32% yes vote to approve strike authorization on behalf of video game performers.

The convenience bargaining group negotiating with SAG-AFTRA includes 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., and WB Games Inc., but the strike will impact every single company signed to the Interactive Media Agreement.

Any game in production that wants to employ SAG-AFTRA members for covered work during the strike will have to sign onto the new Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement, or the Interim Interactive Localization Agreement which all provide the necessary AI protections to performers.

There may be a few other exceptions due to specific contract terms, and because of that SAG-AFTRA has advised all members to verify whether a game is struck via their own website. While anyone can search using a game's code name, SAG-AFTRA has stressed that the most accurate way to confirm if a game is struck is by searching with the Production ID number or reaching out to videogamestrike@sagaftra.org to verify.

Back in 2016, SAG-AFTRA authorized a strike to protect video game voice actors that went on for 340 days until an agreement was reached securing residuals, transparency in roles, and safety for performers. While the last 18 months of negotiations have led to agreements on several key issues, SAG-AFTRA stated "the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their A.I. language."