Video game voice and motion capture performers have called a walkout over the failure of labor contract negotiations to focus on AI-related protections for workers, sparking new strikes in Hollywood.
SAG-AFTRA will launch an Interactive Media Agreement strike targeting video game performers starting Friday, the union announced Thursday.
The decision follows months of negotiations with major video game companies, including Activision Productions, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take-Two Interactive, Disney Character Voices and Warner Bros. Discovery’s WB Games.
The interactive media agreement expires in November 2022 and was being extended month-by-month during negotiations.
“Despite the agreement being reached on many issues important to SAG-AFTRA’s membership, the employer refuses to explicitly affirm in clear and enforceable language that the AI language will protect all performers covered by this contract,” the union said in a statement.
SAG-AFTRA also represented film and TV actors who staged a walkout last July over concerns about inadequate safeguards for artificial intelligence, marking the first two simultaneous strikes in Hollywood in 63 years.
Aside from AI protections, the most pressing issues SAG-AFTRA is addressing in contract negotiations with video game performers are higher wages, healthcare and breaks for motion capture performers.
SAG-AFTRA is seeking higher wages for video game performers, saying their wages have not kept up with inflation, as well as greater protections for motion capture performers, who wear markers or sensors on their skin or body suits to help game makers create character movements.
“We are disappointed that the union chose to withdraw when we were so close to an agreement, but we are ready to resume negotiations. We have already found common ground on 24 of our 25 proposals, including historic wage increases and additional safety provisions,” said Audrey Cooling, a spokeswoman for the video game makers who are parties to the Interactive Media Agreement.
Couling said the proposal presented to SAG-AFTRA includes AI protections, including demands for consent and fair compensation for all performers working under the IMA.
