According to the Screen Actors Guild -American Federt of Television and Radio Artists, video game performers have been on strike since July 26, 2024, with negotiations being “far away.” SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Areland and Interactive Media Negotiation Committee Chairman Sarah Elmaleh jointly wrote to members on Tuesday to share updates on negotiations. The sticking point is the use of artificial intelligence and the use of “digital replicas” of video game actors.
“They want to use all their past performances and performances that can be sourced from outside the contract without negotiating any protection,” writes Crabtree – Ireland and Hermale. “Nothing says anything about replicas being used, nothing is offered in payment methods, and nothing about it can be done. They want your replica to work like you, whether you like it or not, during future strikes. And once you give your specific consent as to how you can use your replica, they refuse to tell you that they actually did it.”
Following the Strike Rules, video game performers can continue working on games that were already in production as of August 25, 2024. ZENRES ZONE and The Legend of the Pillar It’s a technically fair game. However, some companies like Riot Games League of Legendsis explicitly attacked for alleged bad behavior from the company that uses to hire voice actors, Formo Signal Taractive. Formosa Interactive is one of several companies that are negotiating with SAG-AFTRA as a group. Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Activities Blizzard, Insomniac Games and more are also part of the group.
But audio actors and other video game performers – do not have Unions can hold the workforce down with solidarity, even from projects that are not technically struck. That’s what happened to at least two things ZENRES ZONE Voice actors who have been replaced because they do not want to work on projects that are not covered by the SAG-AFRA interim agreement will guarantee the AI protections that AI is currently fighting for.
“I was replaced as Soldier 11 because I didn’t want to perform any work that was not covered by the SAG interim agreement during a strike for AI protection. The outcome will determine the future of our industry.” Nicholas Sarkettle, who voiced Lycaon, said he made a “personal choice” with Blueski and was subsequently replaced. Thurkettle said in another post he learned about the exchange ZENRES ZONE The update has been released. “I share your shock,” he wrote. Several other voice actors were placed in August, but the reason for this was never confirmed.
Chase told passthecontroller on Wednesday that “conscientious” work cannot be done in games that are not covered by SAG-AFTRA’s interim or tiered contracts, with the strike “is probably the most important thing the gaming industry has ever had.
“There are many non-union projects that offer AI protection clauses in contracts, but if a company violates these contracts, or if another company pulls clips from the internet to train AI, it’s up to the actor to pay for the legal services it needs to fight that fight. I can’t speak for all actors, but most of us don’t have the money to sit down to do it right away,” they said. “These are the only contracts that put Sag-Aftra’s legal team in my corner and properly protect my control over my own voice if something goes wrong.”
hoyoverse, it makes ZENRES ZONEchose to leave some of the characters in English without voiced, as voice actors are not available during the strike. a Genshin Impact When the live performance was updated in October, the silence was noticeable. However, the SAG-AFTRA strike has also impacted other video games across the industry. February, part Destiny 2 The characters were also called out. However, like Hoyoverse ZENRES ZONEActivision Blizzard reportedly chose to replace the two audio actors. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
As strikes continue and more new video games enter production, the impact of the strike could increase. The impact of AI use in video games could also increase: Voice actor Mika Nerida denounced indie games for X on Tuesday Secret Castle A gentle quest work by developers that replaces all voice actors with “AI-trained voices.” A day ago, Verge published a report on Sony Interactive Entertainment prototyping. Horizon Forbidden West. “The video doesn’t seem to show AI Aloy using voice actor Ashley Burch’s voice, but the technology is what Sag-AFTRA makes clear. (passthecontroller contacted Sony and Burch to clarify the voices to act in the demo.) Nvidia is working on similar technologies. Even outside the SAG-AFTRA parameters, video game voice actors seek protection: the whole French The Legend of the Pillar The cast reportedly refused to sign a contract with Respawn Entertainment, which allows the company to use voices to train AI.
SAG-AFTRA has published a chart that clearly lays out how negotiations with video game companies are progressing, showing the front and back of the two groups regarding AI use. The two agreed to most of the other suggestions. The biggest AI problem is centered around “digital replicas,” and video game companies want to define it as an actor as a “objectively identifiable” performance. The union says that most of their work doesn’t apply there. Therefore, we aim to include languages that ensure that the contract identifies the actors of the role. The union then wants to protect actors from digital replicas built using works created before the new contract was enacted. That protection is also challenged. The union wants transparency, compensation and usage rules. The actors are given the right to consent to the use of the set time frame, knowing how their voices are being used and giving them the right to compensate for it.
Chase, ZENRES ZONE The voice actor called the company’s response “absolutely crazy.”
“All actors risk stealing voices from past union jobs, past non-union jobs, creating video content or interviews,” they said. “This is no longer a fight for fair wages. It is a fight for physical autonomy and rights to our own voice.”
Audrey Cooling, the company’s representative in negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, provided a statement outlined for the company’s negotiations. “We proposed a deal that includes wage increases over 15% of performers representing video game SAG-AFTRA, enhanced health and safety protections, terms and conditions within the industry-leading AI digital replica, and additional rewards for the use of actors’ performances in other games,” she said. “We want to make meaningful progress and return to the negotiation table to get to the deal.”
update: This story has been updated to include statements from and from video game companies involved in the SAG-AFTRA negotiations. ZENRES ZONE Voice actor Emery Chase.
