Video Game Performers Strike Over AI Concerns

Hollywood's video game performers have announced they will go on strike starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday. This decision follows failed negotiations for a new contract with major game studios over artificial intelligence (AI) protections. This marks the second strike for video game voice actors and motion capture performers under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

Breakdown of Negotiations

After nearly two years of negotiations with major gaming companies such as Activision, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney Co., SAG-AFTRA negotiators reported progress on wages and job safety but significant disagreements over the regulation of generative AI.

AI Protections at the Heart of the Dispute

SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez said, “The industry has told us point blank that they do not necessarily consider everyone who is rendering movement performance to be a performer that is covered by the collective bargaining agreement." This could allow game companies to train AI to replicate an actor’s voice or create digital replicas of their likeness without consent or fair compensation.

“We strike as a matter of last resort. We have given this process absolutely as much time as we responsibly can,” Rodriguez stated. “We have exhausted the other possibilities, and that is why we’re doing it now.”

Studios' Position

Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, claimed that the companies offered “meaningful AI protections.” However, SAG-AFTRA negotiators like Andi Norris argue that these protections are insufficient, particularly for those performing stunts or creature movements.

Economic Impact and Industry Context

The global video game industry generates over $100 billion annually. SAG-AFTRA emphasized that the people who design and bring these games to life are crucial to this success. The agreement in question covers more than 2,500 performers, including voiceover artists, motion capture performers, stunt coordinators, and more.

Historical Context and Interim Agreements

The last interactive contract expired in November 2022 and did not include AI protections. However, it secured bonus compensation for voice actors and performance capture artists following an 11-month strike in 2016. During the current tense negotiations, SAG-AFTRA established a separate contract in February for independent and lower-budget video game projects, which includes some AI protections.

Future Negotiations

While the strike signifies a major disruption, both parties have expressed a willingness to return to negotiations. Cooling emphasized that the companies are prepared to resume talks, suggesting a potential resolution may still be on the horizon.