July 26th 2024.
Today marks the beginning of a strike for US game companies, as SAG-AFTRA members have officially walked off the job. The union is taking a stand for better protections for video game actors against the growing use of AI technology in the industry.
After discussions with gaming companies failed, the Screen Actors Guild has decided to take action and call for a strike. This comes after months of negotiations over the Interactive Media Agreement, which covers SAG-AFTRA members who work in video games.
The main issue at hand, similar to last year's Hollywood strikes, is the need to protect performers and ensure fair compensation in regards to the increasing use of AI technology. This has already had a significant impact on developers, as companies look for ways to cut costs.
Since October of 2022, SAG-AFTRA has been in talks with various gaming companies in the US, including well-known names such as Activision, Disney Character Voices, and EA. These companies have contributed their performance work to popular titles like Starfield, Deathloop, and God of War Ragnarok.
The union's decision to strike was announced on Thursday, after negotiations failed to establish proper AI protections. SAG-AFTRA members will officially be on strike as of today, with their vote to strike coming after over a year and a half of unsuccessful negotiations.
Fran Drescher, the president of SAG-AFTRA, stated, "We will not agree to a contract that allows companies to exploit AI technology at the expense of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies are ready to offer a fair and reasonable agreement, our members will be here, ready to negotiate."
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA's national executive director and chief negotiator, emphasized the important role that performers play in the success of the video game industry. He stated, "The driving force behind that success is the creative people who design and create those games, including our SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved game characters to life. They deserve and demand the same protections as performers in other entertainment industries."
This strike means that game companies will not be able to hire SAG-AFTRA members unless they sign a new interim agreement that includes "critical AI protections." While this may only apply to the US, UK actors' trade union Equity has released a statement in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA. Unfortunately, due to restrictive UK legislation, the UK union will not be able to join the strike.
John Barclay, assistant general secretary at Equity, expressed support for SAG-AFTRA's decision to strike and emphasized the need for fair pay and protection of members' rights in the face of AI innovation.
While the duration of this strike is uncertain, last year's Hollywood strike lasted for four months and caused significant production delays. It's possible that this strike could have a similar impact on game development at companies like Activision, EA, and Insomniac.
Strikes in the video game industry may become more common in the future, as more developers have unionized in response to the instability within the industry. Recently, the team behind Blizzard's World of Warcraft voted to unionize, and Bethesda Game Studios became the first Microsoft studio to fully unionize under the Communication Workers of America.
As this strike unfolds, it remains to be seen how it will affect the highly-anticipated games in development. Could Call of Duty be affected? Only time will tell.
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