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2024 SAG-AFTRA video game strike

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2024 video game voice actor strike
DateJuly 26, 2024 – present
Caused byDisagreements over the terms of a new labor contract
Goals
Methods
Parties

At 12:01 am PDT (UTC-7) on July 26, 2024, the US labor union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) initiated a labor strike against all video game companies signed to the Interactive Media Agreement.[2][3] The strike had been authorized in September 2023.[4][5][6] The strike started after a year and a half of negotiations which failed to result in a protection agreement from the use of artificial intelligence for all performers covered by the Interactive Media Agreement.[2] In addition to video game performers, there were concerns about companies having the ability to train A.I. to replicate an actor’s voice, or create a digital replica of their likeness, without consent or fair compensation.[3]

History

[edit]

With significant advances in generative AI in the early 2020s, game developers have seen potential to reduce labor costs and increase productivity by substituting AI for human performers.[7] Additionally, mass layoffs in the video game industry from 2023 onwards have led to concerns about the future sustainability of game development, as this led to the cancellation of several game projects and shutdown of several studios. AI has been explored as one solution to mitigate the rising development costs of games, including costs associated with hiring voice-over and motion capture actors. According to sources, motion capture studios may charge $500-$2000 per hour,[8] and a unionized voice actor may make $450-$2000 per hour.[9] While AI could potentially reduce or even eliminate these costs, this has also led to significant concerns from video game actors of all sectors, including unwanted replication of voice and likeness, job security, and lack of compensation.[10]

On September 1, the SAG-AFTRA National Board voted to send the video game strike authorization vote to its members,[11][12] and on September 25, the results showed the authorization passed with 98.32% voting in favor.[13] Months of negotiations which were held between SAG-AFTRA and major videogame companies such as Activision, Blindlight, Electronic Arts (EA), Epic Games, Insomniac, Take-Two Interactive, Disney Character Voices and Warner Bros. Games proved to be a failure.[14][15] On July 25, 2024, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Cabtree-Ireland stated that SAG-AFTRA would go on strike against major video game publishers.[16][17] Crabtree-Ireland affirmed that the strike would become effective at 12:01 am PDT on July 26, 2024, while Drescher stated that “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate.”[18] Roughly 2,600 people employed in the video game industry in voice acting, motion capture and other work would then go on strike.[14]

On September 4, Lightspeed LA, a division of Tencent's Lightspeed Studios, signed an interim agreement with the union to continue to work with its actors.[19] SAG-AFTRA announced the following day that 80 games had signed acceptable interim agreements with the union, allowing actors to return to work on those games and putting more pressure on the larger publishers.[20]

As with 2016–17, it is unknown how long the strike is expected to last or how much it will impact production on a large scale, but according to Joost van Dreunen of the NYU Stern School of Business, companies would try to resolve this by September, and no later than the end of 2024.[21]

Some notable live service games such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail are seemingly among the first to experience the effects of the strike, as certain promotional videos were released without audio or with Japanese voices only due to "recording arrangements."

On September 17, 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom officially signed two bills, AB 1836, which grants protections against AI being used on dead performers, and AB 2602, which grants protections against AI being used on living performers without it being spelled out with reasonable specificity. The bills include protections for voiceover work and video game performances (ex. motion capture work) and were signed at SAG-AFTRA headquarters with support from union leadership.[22] Protections against AI for motion capture work is of particular note, as the identity of motion capture professionals as performers (which directly impact AI regulations) has been cited by SAG-AFTRA leadership as a significant reason for initiating the strike, as well as one of the most heated points of disagreement with video game companies.[23]

As California is a significant base for voice-over and motion capture work (with many of the companies being targeted by the strike also being based out of the state), this is expected to play a pivotal role in negotiations moving forward. However, it is unclear how companies plan to respond to or interpret these bills, and as of today, negotiations have yet to begin.

On September 24, 2024, SAG-AFTRA called for a strike against the League of Legends game after accusing the game's producer Formosa Interactive of making an effort to go around the strike.[24] According to SAG-AFTRA, Formosa Entertainment "secretly transferred an unrelated title to a shell company and sent out casting notices for 'non-union' talent only."[25] SAG-AFTRA's interactive negotiating committee would unanimously vote to file an unfair labor practice charge against Formosa Interactive with the National Labor Relations Board.[25] Part of this charge called for a strike against League of Legends.[25] In response, Formosa released a statement stating that it has denied the allegations and has not acted in any way to undermine employee or union rights.[24] However, Riot Games, the developer and publisher of League of Legends, also released a statement stating that they have only instructed Formosa Interactive to engage with US union performers and that SAG-AFTRA's press release relates that cancelling a game or hiring non-union talent are related to a game not developed and/or published by them, stating that "we’ve never asked Formosa to cancel a game that we've registered."[24][26]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk (July 26, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA video game actors go on strike". KIRO 7. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "SAG-AFTRA Members Who Work on Video Games Go on Strike; A.I. Protections Remain the Sticking Point". SAG AFTRA. July 26, 2024. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Parvini, Sarah (July 26, 2024). "Video game performers will go on strike over artificial intelligence concerns". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Parvini, Sarah (September 25, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA members vote to authorize strike against video game companies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  5. ^ "SAG-AFTRA National Board Votes Unanimously to Send Interactive Media (Video Game) Strike Authorization Vote to Members". SAG-AFTRA. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "Video game voice actor members of SAG-AFTRA go on strike over lack of AI protections for union". WSB-TV. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Marr, Bernard (April 18, 2024). "The Role Of Generative AI In Video Game Development". Forbes. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Marr, Bernard (October 12, 2023). "Is Motion Capture Expensive? How To Reduce The Cost Of Motion Capture?". Animost. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Lane, Jennifer (March 15, 2024). "How Much Do Video Game Voice Actors Make?". Backstage. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  10. ^ del Barco, Mandalit (August 14, 2024). "AI is changing video games — and striking performers want their due". NPR. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "SAG-AFTRA National Board Votes Unanimously to Send Interactive Media (Video Game) Strike Authorization Vote to Members". SAG-AFTRA. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  12. ^ Maddaus, Gene (September 1, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Seeks Approval for Second Strike Against Video Game Companies". Variety. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  13. ^ Robb, David (September 26, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Members Vote Overwhelmingly To Authorize Strike Against Video Game Industry". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Masunga, Samantha; Carras, Christi (July 27, 2024). "Video game actors are on strike. Here's what that means". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Broadway, Danielle (July 25, 2024). "Hollywood's videogame performers to strike over AI, pay concerns". Reuters. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Hayden, Erik (July 25, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Maas, Jennifer (July 25, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Publishers". Variety. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  18. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Members Who Work on Video Games Go on Strike". SAG-AFTRA. July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Kilkenny, Katie (September 4, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA Inks Video Game Deal With 'Last Sentinel' Maker During Strike Against Major Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  20. ^ Huamani, Kaitlyn (September 5, 2024). "Video game performers reach agreement with 80 video games on AI terms". Associated Press News. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Masunaga, Samantha (July 27, 2024). "Video game actors are on strike. Here's what that means". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  22. ^ Masunaga, Samantha (September 17, 2024). "Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs AI Bills Backed by SAG-AFTRA". Variety. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Parrish, Ash (August 5, 2024). "Video game actors are officially on strike over AIA". The Verge. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c Kilkenny, Katie (September 24, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against 'League of Legends'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  25. ^ a b c Parvini, Sarah (September 24, 2024). "Video game actors' union calls for strike against 'League of Legends'". Associated Press. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  26. ^ Srinivasaragavan, Suhasini (September 25, 2024). "League of Legends added to SAG-AFTRA strike list". Silicon Republic. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
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