On July 26, SAG-AFTRA called a strike over the Interactive Media Contract for video game performers.
Video game voice and motion capture performers have called a walkout over the failure of labor contract negotiations to focus on AI-related protections for workers, sparking new strikes in Hollywood.
SAG-AFTRA will launch a strike on July 26 for the Interactive Media Agreement, which covers video game performers, the union announced Thursday.
The decision follows months of negotiations with major video game companies, including Activision Productions, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take-Two Interactive, Disney Character Voices and Warner Bros. Discovery's WB Games.
The interactive media agreement expires in November 2022 and was being extended month-by-month during negotiations.
“Despite the agreement being reached on many issues important to SAG-AFTRA's membership, the employer refuses to explicitly affirm in clear and enforceable language that the AI language will protect all performers covered by this contract,” the union said in a statement.
SAG-AFTRA also represents film and TV actors who went on strike last July over concerns about inadequate safeguards for artificial intelligence (AI), leaving Hollywood in the midst of its first two simultaneous strikes in 63 years.
While film and TV studios negotiated on a unified footing, with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) negotiating on their behalf, the games industry has no similar group, so it's highly likely that one or more game developers will give in to the union's demands, said Michael Pachter, managing director at Wedbush.
“If one (developer) does it, everyone will do it.”
Aside from AI protections, the most pressing issues SAG-AFTRA is addressing in contract negotiations with video game performers are higher wages, healthcare and breaks for motion capture performers.
SAG-AFTRA says pay for video game performers hasn't kept up with inflation and is also seeking stronger protections for motion-capture performers, who wear markers and sensors on their skin or in body suits to help game makers create character movements.
“We are disappointed that the union chose to withdraw when we were so close to an agreement. We stand ready to resume negotiations and have already found common ground on 24 of our 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions,” said Audrey Cooling, a spokeswoman for the video game makers who are parties to the Interactive Media Agreement.
Couling said the proposal presented to SAG-AFTRA includes AI protections, including demands for consent and fair compensation for all performers working under the IMA.
Still, Wedbush's Pachter said voice acting makes up a tiny portion of the average game's development costs, which exceed $80 million, with voice acting accounting for just $500,000 of that.
“Delaying a game's release to save hundreds of thousands of dollars just isn't worth it,” Pachter said.
