2024 SAG-AFTRA video game strike
2024 video game voice actor strike | |||
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Date | July 26, 2024 – present | ||
Caused by | Disagreements over the terms of a new labor contract | ||
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At 12:01 am PDT (UTC-7) on July 26, 2024, the US labor union SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) initiated a labor strike against all video game companies signed to the Interactive Media Agreement.[2][3] The strike had been authorized in September 2023.[4][5][6] The strike started after a year and a half of negotiations which failed to result in a protection agreement from the use of artificial intelligence for all performers covered by the Interactive Media Agreement.[2] In addition to video game performers, there were concerns about companies having the ability to train A.I. to replicate an actor’s voice, or create a digital replica of their likeness, without consent or fair compensation.[3]
History
[edit]On September 1, the SAG-AFTRA National Board voted to send the video game strike authorization vote to its members,[7][8] and on September 25, the results showed the authorization passed with 98.32% voting in favor.[9] Months of negotiations which were held between SAG-AFTRA and major videogame companies such as Activision, Blindlight, Electronic Arts (EA), Epic Games, Insomniac, Take-Two Interactive, Disney Character Voices and Warner Bros. Games proved to be a failure.[10][11] On July 25, 2024, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Cabtree-Ireland stated that SAG-AFTRA would go on strike against major video game publishers.[12][13] Crabtree-Ireland affirmed that the strike would become effective at 12:01 am PDT on July 26, 2024, while Drescher stated that “We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse A.I. to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough. When these companies get serious about offering an agreement our members can live — and work — with, we will be here, ready to negotiate.”[14] Roughly 2,600 people employed in the video game industry in voice acting, motion capture and other work would then go on strike.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk (July 26, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA video game actors go on strike". KIRO 7. Archived from the original on July 28, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "SAG-AFTRA Members Who Work on Video Games Go on Strike; A.I. Protections Remain the Sticking Point". SAG AFTRA. July 26, 2024. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Parvini, Sarah (July 26, 2024). "Video game performers will go on strike over artificial intelligence concerns". Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Parvini, Sarah (September 25, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA members vote to authorize strike against video game companies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "SAG-AFTRA National Board Votes Unanimously to Send Interactive Media (Video Game) Strike Authorization Vote to Members". SAG-AFTRA. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "Video game voice actor members of SAG-AFTRA go on strike over lack of AI protections for union". WSB-TV. July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "SAG-AFTRA National Board Votes Unanimously to Send Interactive Media (Video Game) Strike Authorization Vote to Members". SAG-AFTRA. September 1, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Maddaus, Gene (September 1, 2023). "SAG-AFTRA Seeks Approval for Second Strike Against Video Game Companies". Variety. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Robb, David (2023-09-26). "SAG-AFTRA Members Vote Overwhelmingly To Authorize Strike Against Video Game Industry". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ a b Masunga, Samantha; Carras, Christi (July 27, 2024). "Video game actors are on strike. Here's what that means". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 27, 2024. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
- ^ Broadway, Danielle (July 25, 2024). "Hollywood's videogame performers to strike over AI, pay concerns". Reuters. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Hayden, Erik (July 25, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (July 25, 2024). "SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Publishers". Variety. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
- ^ "SAG-AFTRA Members Who Work on Video Games Go on Strike". SAG-AFTRA. July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.