Video game artists are going on strike over AI

Actors in the film Several giants of the video game industry are going on strike. On Thursday, the union representing voice and motion-capture artists announced they would walk off the job after negotiations with major video game companies failed, due to concerns about AI safety. The work stoppage is set to begin on Friday.

“We will not agree to a contract that allows companies to misuse AI to the detriment of our members,” Fran Drescher, president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which represents the performers, said in a prepared statement. “Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement for our members to stay and work together, we will be here ready to negotiate.”

Many SAG-AFTRA members are currently here Comic-Con International for panels and other presentations in San Diego. They will still be able to fulfill their obligations this weekend, as the strike is announced “close” to the event, which runs through Sunday. “Solidarity,” Dragon Age: The Veilguard Voice actor Erika Ishii Posted on X. “We’ll fulfill contracts at SDCC, but after that we’ll be on the line.” Last year’s Hollywood strike greatly reduced The number of cast members able to attend Comic-Con events.

Tensions have been brewing for months between SAG members and major video game companies over AI. Negotiations between the two sides began in October 2022. Members Voted to authorize the strike in September 2023. “Eighteen months of negotiations have shown us that our employers are not interested in fair, reasonable AI protections; instead, they are interested in blatant exploitation,” Sarah Elmaleh, SAG’s negotiating chair for the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA), which covers video game workers, said in a statement. “We reject this paradigm — we will not leave any of our members behind, nor will we wait any longer for adequate protections.”

In the video game industry, actors regularly lend their voices, likenesses, and even movements to projects. Voice acting and motion-capture remain a vital part of game development, even as AI is beginning to be used Change the way developers build Despite success on other points, video game companies and SAG have been unable to reach a consensus on AI.

“We are disappointed that the union decided to walk away when we were so close to a deal, and we look forward to resuming negotiations,” Audrey Couling, a spokesperson for the video game companies involved in the talks, said in a statement to WIRED. The group includes companies like Activision, Disney, Electronic Arts, Insomniac Games, Take-Two, and Warner Bros.

“We have already reached consensus on 24 of the 25 proposals, including historic pay increases and additional protection provisions,” Cooling said. “Our proposal directly answers SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and provides meaningful AI protections, including consent and fair compensation for all performers working under the IMA. These terms are among the strongest in the entertainment industry.”