Video Game Actor's Strike Officially Ends After AI Trade

The video game actor voted to end his one-year strike against artificial intelligence (AI) protection.

Approximately 2,500 members of the US union SAG-AFTRA were involved in actions against 10 large companies in the industry, including Activision and Electronic Arts.

Both sides spent months dealing with AI use to replicate the actor's performance, putting up a “guardrail” to prevent this from happening.

The union said 95% of those who voted to support the contract, including changes to wage and health and safety protection.

Both sides were already locked in negotiations for about 18 months when the strike began last July.

At the time, SAG-AFTRA agreed to 24 of 25 contested regions, but said that fixed points used AI to replicate human performance.

A major barrier was the disagreement of motion capture actors whose works were treated as “data” rather than performance.

In a statement released after the vote to end the strike, the union said the new contract secured “consent and disclosure requirements for the use of AI digital replicas.”

The performer also said that consent could be withdrawn in the event of a future strike.

Audrey Cooling, a spokesman for a video game company negotiating with SAG-AFTRA, said the members were “pleased” to approve the new interactive media agreement.

She said it includes “historic wage growth, industry-leading AI protection, and enhanced measures of health and safety for performers.”

Ashly Burch is a video game actor known for her performance as Tiny Tina in the Borderlands series and as Chloe in Adventure Game Life Is Strange.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat to allow members to vote after the strike was suspended, Ashley said he didn't want performers to ban AI entirely in game development.

“We just don't want it to be replaced,” she said.

She said AI is “undoubtedly a greater threat to voice and athletic performers” than film and television actors, and that the main goal of the strike is guarantees about “consent, transparency and compensation.”

“Essentially, you have to get our consent to make our digital replicas,” she said.

“Please tell us how you use it. And you have to compensate us fairly.”

One of Ashley's most famous characters, Alloy from Sony's Horizon series – became a hot topic during a strike when the character's AI-powered prototype leaked.

She said the response from fans to models shows that the characters responding to prompts from players – is encouraging.

“For people, everyone is, 'I don't want to perform AI in my game,' she added.

Ashly has also worked on live-action projects focusing on Apple TV Show Mythic Quest, her recent web series I'm Happy You're Here and Mental Health.

She said both reminded her of what humans can bring to roles.

“And that's a huge risk to AI as a game-loving and art-loving person, and we're trying to lose out on some really interesting, exciting performances.”

The video game actor strike did not affect the entire industry and was primarily applied to US-based workers and projects.

And unlike the full-scale Hollywood Strike of 2023, video game performers were able to work with companies that signed tentative concerns about AI.

Veteran voice actors Robbie Damond and Ray Chase set up their own game studio and tell BBC Newsbeat they can continue working on their debut release.

The game features a cast of around 70 well-known performers who have been able to tackle the project thanks to a tentative deal.

However, Robbie, who appeared in Final Fantasy 15 and various animated series, says it was a tough year for American performers.

“It's been a long strike and has had a huge impact on everyone involved,” he says.

Robbie says he knows people who earned money in the industry where many performers do short stints on multiple projects.

“I hope people understand that when they're talking about this long-standing strike and how serious it is to them, it has a real human impact,” he says.

Ray points out that Voice Actors had the option to work outside of video games, but the strike was particularly difficult for actors who specialize in motion capture.

“If you come out to Los Angeles to become a motion capture actor, your whole existence is threatened by AI,” he says.

“These people are heroes that have been sticking out for so long.”

Ray also points out that if the strike fails to hire an actor easily, it will affect video game developers.

“Strikes are never easy for workers. They're not easy for everyone,” he says.

“It's certainly great to have found a peaceful solution.”

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