SAG-AFTRA is officially on strike. Last year, we wrote that headline in relation to Hollywood actors taking to the picket lines alongside writers with WGA. This year, the story is video game voice actors, who say gaming companies are refusing to meet their demands on artificial intelligence.
Though the Hollywood actors strike has since resolved, the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) video game actors' strike has been brewing for some time now, with negotiations over a new contract beginning in October 2022 and SAG-AFTRA members approving a video game strike authorization last September with 98.32% approval. Now that the strike is official, here's a quick FAQ with everything an average video game enjoyer might want to know about what's going on, why this is happening, and how it might impact video games.
Wait, didn't I already read this headline?
First, a quick recap, because there's been a lot of SAG-AFTRA/AI/strike/voice actor/video game-related news in the last, yikes, almost a year. We spoke to SAG-AFTRA representatives waaaaay back in September of 2023 right as they first authorized a strike of video game work. At the time, that didn't mean that a strike was happening, just that the union's members had authorized it. At the time, SAG-AFTRA was trying to put pressure on companies to work with the guild on three major issues: pay increases, mandatory breaks and set medics for on-camera performances, and AI protections.
Since that time, they've made strides on basically every single issue on the table except that last one: AI. SAG-AFTRA has been banging this drum ever since, from leafleting outside The Game Awards to striking a deal with AI studio Replica AI to ensure protections for voice actors who did want to opt into using AI in their work (though not all members were thrilled about this agreement). In that time, some game studios have signed interim agreements with SAG-AFTRA that include the AI protections the guild is asking for, but the collective representatives coming to the bargaining table have yet to reach a deal with the union.
Which is why, after months of negotiations, SAG-AFTRA is calling a strike beginning at 12:01 a.m. on July 26, 2024. In a call with the media earlier today, SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee members explained that one of the biggest issues remaining involves the definition of who a "performer" is. Video game companies, says negotiating chair Sarah Elmaleh, are trying to exclude some members from AI protections, and are refusing to spell out other protections in "clear and enforceable language."
"The employers' AI provisions leave the folks who put their bodies on the line the most vulnerable to abuse," said negotiating committee member Andi Norris. "They say they get to choose, seemingly arbitrarily, who is a performer and who is just data. Our union represents all performers, and we refuse to allow our employers to disrespect a portion of our members who have poured their lives and talents into making great performances by saying we don't count."
What video games are being impacted by the strike?
The answer is an awful, awful lot of them. Most, even. SAG-AFTRA has called for a strike of "all covered services", meaning SAG-AFTRA actors will not be doing any of their union performance work for video games until the strike is called off. Officially, SAG-AFTRA is going to the bargaining table with a "convenience bargaining group" that includes Activision, Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices, EA, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac, Llama Productions, Take-Two, VoiceWorks Productions, and WB Games. But these folks are stand-ins for the larger industry - they're not the only publishers getting strike action.
But that doesn't mean every single video game is struck. Some video games have been approved for interim agreements that allow work to continue, and some have already signed onto independent agreements with SAG-AFTRA that meet the terms the union is asking all video game companies for already, including on AI. These projects are not struck - in fact, SAG-AFTRA is encouraging members to work on them while the strike goes on.
Because the video game industry is secretive and VA work can sometimes be done before a project is even announced, there's no real way for fans to know what unannounced projects are being impacted. For announced games, though, SAG-AFTRA's website has a handy tool where you can input the name of a video game and see if SAG-ATRA members are cleared to work on it or not. It's the best and fastest way to learn about the status of a particular game, and see which studios and projects have already committed to agreements with SAG-AFTRA that include AI protections.
How will the video game actors strike impact me, as a gamer?
In a very immediate sense, they don't. Video games are going to continue to come out and the games that are already out will continue to be supported, and you can keep playing them. As far as your day-to-day gaming goes, nothing's really changed.
But on a grander scale, the strike and its causes do impact everyone with a stake in video games, including those who play them. The consequences of whatever deal is struck or not struck here will eventually ripple out into the games you play, potentially resulting in more AI performances, fewer of your favorite actors, or some other impact. As SAG-AFTRA itself states on its website:
"Actors are workers. Like all workers, game performers deserve to make a living under conditions that are safe and humane.
"Additionally, your favorite performances are brought to life through the artistry of human actors who improvise, tap into personal experiences, and collaborate with writers and directors to create a performance that only they could provide. No two actors are the same, and every performance is unique.
"Generative A.I. tools threaten to replace these artists with derivative, machine-recycled performance, lacking perspective or surprise. A.I.-generated performances will not carry the originality, pathos or humor of an actual human actor."
What about unreleased video games? Will we see more delays?
In the short term, for games that have already gone gold or had all their voice and mo-cap work done, it's unlikely that we'll see delays. However, for games a little further out where performances haven't yet been recorded, it's entirely possible that bottlenecks start to happen. Mo-cap work in particular can really gum up processes if it's not completed, as numerous parts of game development pipelines rely on having performance data collected early. And while it's possible non-union members could "scab" by filling those roles, this is generally considered a huge no-no, and SAG-AFTRA itself encompasses 160,000 members - that's a lot of voice actors! Right now, none of them are allowed to even audition for new roles in gaming. Given enough time, that's going to cause a hold-up.
At the time this post was written, the strike has only just begun, so a deal being struck quickly will ultimately mean very little impact on the industry. But if the SAG-AFTRA strike lasts for weeks or months, we may see ripple effects on upcoming new games, including delays. Only time will tell.
Does this mean I can't play video games anymore if I want to support the strike?
Good news: SAG-AFTRA wants you to keep playing video games! The official website's FAQ has a message for creators and streamers on the subject that extends to fans as well: "We are not asking you to stop playing video games. In fact the opposite! Please continue doing what you love, and any support and solidarity would be extremely appreciated!"
So game away!
I'm at San Diego Comic-Con! Does this mean my meet-ups and panels with video game voice actors are canceled?
More good news! Nothing's canceled. SAG-AFTRA has carved out an exception for the convention that allows its members to continue participating in all SDCC-related work as planned. From the website: "Given the close proximity of the calling of the strike with San Diego Comic-Con (“SDCC”), the strike rules relating to promotion and publicity services do not apply to promotion and publicity services provided at SDCC 2024."
How else can I support striking voice actors?
SAG-AFTRA is encouraging creators and streamers to invite video game performers onto streams and shows to discuss the strike. And it's asking everyone to amplify SAG-AFTRA's messages about the strike using #LevelUpTheContract, #VideoGameStrike and #SagAftraStrong on socials. The union has also provided shareable graphics and other information about how to support online.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Blogroll image credit: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
