SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers Announce Strike

SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator and executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland called for a strike against video game companies on Thursday after more than a year and a half of bargaining for a new contract for video game performers. The strike, tied to the Interactive Media Agreement, goes into effect Friday at 12:01 a.m.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists wrote in a press release that the union was unable to reach an agreement with video game companies around AI protections, stating, “the employers refuse to plainly affirm, in clear and enforceable language, that they will protect all performers covered by this contract in their AI language.”

“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members,” SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher wrote in a statement. “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.”

Crabtree-Ireland added that video game performers are the “driving force” behind successful video game companies and that “they deserve and demand the same fundamental protections as performers in film, television, streaming, and music: fair compensation and the right of informed consent for the A.I. use of their faces, voices, and bodies.”

“Frankly, it’s stunning that these video game studios haven’t learned anything from the lessons of last year – that our members can and will stand up and demand fair and equitable treatment with respect to A.I., and the public supports us in that,” he wrote.

Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, wrote that video game employers are “disappointed” the actors union has “chosen to walk away” and that they “remain prepared to resume negotiations.”

“We have already found common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions,” Cooling added. “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 working under the IMA. These terms are among the strongest in the entertainment industry.”

On July 20, the SAG-AFTRA national board granted Crabtree-Ireland the authority to call for a strike against video game companies if a deal is not reached. As of Saturday, the parties remained “far apart” on their proposals around A.I. projections, according to a press release. Despite this, Crabtree-Ireland wrote in the Saturday release that the union’s resolve is “unwavering” and “should not be tested.”

“We are steadfast in our commitment to our membership who work this contract and whose extraordinary performances are the heart and soul of the world’s most popular video games,” Crabtree-Ireland said in a press statement. “Time is running out for the companies to make a deal.”

The video game companies impacted by the work stoppage include Insomniac Games Inc., WB Games Inc., Epic Games Inc., Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and Disney Character Voices Inc.

In September, more than 30,000 SAG-AFTRA members voted 98. 32 percent in favor of a strike authorization against the 10 video game companies. Interactive Media Agreement negotiating committee chair Sarah Elmaleh wrote in a statement that she looks forward to reaching an agreement around A.I. transparency, consent, and compensation for all performers.

“Eighteen months of negotiations have shown us that our employers are not interested in fair, reasonable A.I. protections, but rather flagrant exploitation. We refuse this paradigm – we will not leave any of our members behind, nor will we wait for sufficient protection any longer,” Elmaleh wrote.

The Interactive Media Agreement, which protects about 2,600 voice and motion capture performers in the video game industry, expired in November 2022. In the latest contract negotiations, video game performers are seeking consent for the creation of AI replicas, or the use of their voice and likeness using AI, and compensation for use.

The video game work stoppage follows the 118-day actor strike last year, during which actors fought for fair compensation and protections around artificial intelligence. Since SAG-AFTRA’s members ratified the deal in December, some actors still find the use of digital technology and the creation of digital replicas a threat to their livelihoods. Video game actors last went on strike in October 2016 for 183 days.