Video Game Actors Strike Over AI Controversy: What You Need to Know

SAG-AFTRA Strikes Against the Video Game Industry: Understanding the Current Situation

Actors from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) have taken to the streets with picket signs once again. This time, they are striking against the video game industry after negotiations for a new contract related to interactive media and video games failed to reach an agreement. The strike commenced on Friday, July 26, 2023, putting a halt to new video game projects for over 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members and affecting everything from major studios to indie developers.

What Led to the Strike?

The negotiations broke down primarily due to disagreements surrounding worker protections against AI technology. SAG-AFTRA negotiates the terms of the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA) with a bargaining committee that represents major video game publishers such as Activision, Take-Two, Insomniac Games, and WB Games, among others.

While the two parties were able to agree on various proposals, disagreements concerning AI proved to be the deal-breaker. SAG-AFTRA’s provisions on AI govern protections for voice and motion performers related to the creation of digital replicas — essentially using a performer’s previous work as the foundation for new performances without their direct involvement.

AI Protections and The Employers' Offer

A significant point of contention between the SAG-AFTRA and the bargaining companies involved which types of performers would receive AI protections. According to SAG-AFTRA chief contracts officer, Ray Rodriguez, the bargaining companies initially aimed to extend protections only to voice performers, leaving motion performers such as stunt professionals unprotected. Following some discussions, the companies proposed granting motion performers some protections but restricted them to instances where the performer could be identified in the AI’s digital output.

SAG-AFTRA rejected this proposal, indicating that it would potentially exclude a majority of movement performances. Andi Norris, a member of SAG-AFTRA’s IMA negotiating committee, poignantly remarked, "The proposal would leave movement specialists, including stunts, entirely out in the cold, to be replaced by soulless synthetic performers trained on our actual performances.”

Employers' Stance on AI Provisions

In contrast, representatives from the bargaining companies argued that their terms adequately addressed SAG-AFTRA's concerns, stating they included provisions for consent and fair compensation. In a statement to The Verge, Audrey Cooling, who represents the video game companies, expressed, “Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections.”

Understanding the Strike's Impact

As the strike unfolds, it poses critical questions about the future of video game production. SAG-AFTRA’s strike rules include various exceptions for companies and types of work, making it challenging to gauge the full impact of the strike. Notably, work conducted under SAG-AFTRA’s Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement or an Interim Interactive Media Agreement is exempt from the strike. This implies that certain projects, like Grand Theft Auto VI, continue unaffected, despite Take-Two being a struck company.

Member Guidance on Struck Work

SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee members have urged others to avoid working on projects that fall under the "side letter six" exemption, which allows but does not require performers to work during a strike. Sarah Elmaleh, a video game performer and the chair of SAG-AFTRA’s IMA negotiating committee, noted in a TikTok video that this language exists primarily to undermine the significance of the strike.”

Conclusion: A Repeat of History?

The last time SAG-AFTRA actors striking against the video game industry was in 2016, resulting in an 11-month standoff that secured fixed rate increases, improved on-set safety, and better protection against vocal stress for voice performers. As the current strike unfolds, the hope remains that it will lead to advancements in terms both beneficial to the performers and sustainable for the industry.