After long-standing negotiations, key players from the gaming industry have finally reached a tentative deal with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), subject to review and approval from respective bodies. Though further specifics of the proposed agreement have yet to be made public, they are expected to be disclosed upon ratification.
However, even with this promising development, it hasn’t been all quiet on the Western front. The strike by SAG-AFTRA, which commenced on July 26, 2024, is anticipated to persist until the modified Interactive Media Contract is both reviewed and authorized by the National Board, and ratified by the members of SAG-AFTRA.
A statement from SAG-AFTRA says, “While upswing in the negotiations is expected, and the terms of a strike suspension deal should be finalized soon, our members will remain on strike against the employers until we reach an agreement. SAG-AFTRA members’ resilience is commendable, to say the least.”
A noteworthy disagreement within the discussions was the integration of AI in video gaming, which posed a particular threat to voice actors. Some high-profile games such as League of Legends, Destiny 2, and Genshin Impact have felt the sting of the voice actor’s strike.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director, Chief Negotiator, showered praise on the vigor displayed by the video game performers and the relentless dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee, over these many tedious months. “Persistent patience has led to a fruitful agreement. It ensures the necessary artificial intelligence regulations defender performers’ livelihoods in the AI era, in addition to other crucial pursuits,” he said.
SAG-AFTRA’s conversations have been, till now, largely with some of the giants of the gaming industry – corporations such as, Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, WB Games Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Epic Games Inc., Insomniac Games Inc., Activision Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, and Take 2 Productions Inc.
The recent progress was celebrated by Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA president, who remarked, “Our video game performers have put up a strong fight against the trail blazers from one of the world’s most profitable industries. Their outstanding courage and resilience coupled with the steadfast spirit of our negotiating committee is what truly paved the way for this agreement. This deal is a substantial step forward, placing us in a better position than we were before. As soon as the deal is ratified, we are gearing up for our next set of negotiations. Each contract serves as a progression, and progression is what we’re all about.”
In the light of these events, it can be seen that the negotiations have indeed stirred up excitement, not only within the realm of the gaming industry, but also among the audience who are keenly looking forward to what the final agreement may entail. This phase, undoubtedly, marks a significant shift in how the commerce operates, most notably with regard to artificial intelligence applications’ role and the impact on voice-acting profession.
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