Following the recent strike by actors and screenwriters in Hollywood, a strike by (voice) actors in the U.S. gaming industry begins today.
The actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, which is also responsible for the strike in Hollywood, had been negotiating for over a year and a half with various gaming companies such as Activision Blizzard, Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Insomniac Games, and Warner Bros Games. Companies like Blindlight, which provides voices for major game franchises like Halo, Destiny, and The Elder Scrolls, and Formosa Interactive, known for voice work in Call of Duty games and God of War, were also involved in the negotiations. According to President Fran Drescher, negotiations broke down over the use of AI for voice work, leading the union to announce a strike today.
Last year, it was revealed that 98.32 percent of union members had voted in favor of a strike. At that time, there were already discussions about greed and lack of respect at the companies, as well as the increasing use of artificial intelligence that threatens jobs. Despite continued negotiations, the parties were unable to reach an agreement.
Although an agreement was reached on most other issues, such as wage increases and actors’ rights, the use of AI remains a sticking point. The studios proposed asking actors for permission and compensating them when their voices were used alongside AI, but this was deemed insufficient. The actors represented by SAG-AFTRA are seeking guarantees that their voices will not be misused. The union states that the companies have not yet provided these assurances.
Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the gaming companies negotiating with SAG-AFTRA, stated:
“We are disappointed that the union has chosen to walk away when we were so close to a deal, and we remain willing to continue negotiations. We had reached an agreement on 24 out of 25 issues, including historic wage increases and additional security measures. Our offer directly addresses SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends protections against AI, including mandatory approval and fair compensation for all union members. These terms are among the strongest within the entertainment industry.”
It is currently unclear how many actors will participate in the strike, but the union has indicated that it represents approximately 2,600 people within the industry. The strike is expected to result in these actors ceasing work for the affected companies for the duration of the strike. This could lead to delays in various games in development that rely on voice work. The strike in Hollywood last year lasted several months and had a noticeable impact on the release schedule for films and series.
