Actors Strike May Spill Over Into Games; Industry's Future Depends on Ongoing Negotiations [Update]
The fate of the strike in the game industry is at stake. One of SAG-AFTRA's main demands is to protect voice actors from artificial intelligence.
Update
The official website of SAG-AFTRA shared the following announcement:
"SAG-AFTRA and video game employers concluded scheduled negotiations for the Interactive Media Agreement. No deal was reached and the current agreement will remain in effect while the parties make final efforts to reach a deal. "
We write about the demands of both sides in the original news item.
Original message (September 27)
Although it seems inconceivable to us, video game development may be halted for some time - all because of a possible strike announced by the SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) organization.
A strike in the game industry is being prepared?
SAG-AFTRA recently announced that its members have endorsed the possibility of a strike in the video game industry. 98% of the 35,000 respondents voted in favor of such a solution (which translates into 27% of those bound to vote).
For now, it is not certain whether the strike will happen at all. Everything depends on talks between union representatives and game companies.. The artists' main demands are: adequate wage increases and protection from artificial intelligence (AI).
Artificial intelligence has been stirring up considerable controversy in recent times. It undoubtedly has many advantages, but its advancing development could lead to voice actors losing their jobs. This problem has been raised before.
- Roger Clark, who played the role of Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, was against the use of his voice in remakes created with the help of AI.
- Known, among other things, for her role as Misty in Cyberpunk 2077 Erica Lindbeck also reacted to a video in which her voice was used.
- It was no different with Victoria Atkin, who also fell victim to this practice. One online creators used her voice in a mod for Skyrim.
These cases show that the problem is not small, and in the future it could pose a seriously risk to actors. Therefore, it is not surprising that they have already decided to become heavily involved in the protection of intellectual property.
WB Games, Activision, EA - a strike could hit these companies.
If SAG-AFTRA does not reach an agreement with representatives of the gaming industry, the strike will involve at least 10 companies. As reported by Deadline, these are:
- Activision
- Electronic Arts
- Epic Games
- Insomniac Games
- WB Games
- Take 2
- Blindlight
- Disney Character Voices
- Formosa Interactive
- VoiceWorks Productions
As a result, planned game releases may be delayed. Recall that Insomniac Games is currently working on Marvel's Wolverine, and Electronic Arts at least on Black Panther.
"It's time for the publishers to stop "playing games" and get serious about reaching an agreement on this deal. The outcome of the vote shows that our members understand the existential nature of these negotiations, and that it's time for companies - which make billions of dollars and pay their CEOs generously - to give artists a deal that will allow them to continue to play games," said Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA.
It is worth noting that members SAG-AFTRA also includes Yuri Lowenthal, the voice actor of Peter Parker from Marvel's Spider-Man 2, which will go on sale in the second half of October.
An uncertain future for the industry?
Let's hope that the two sides come to an agreement, and that a strike in the video game industry ultimately fails to materialize and does not derail publishing plans. Recall that voice actors last protested in 2016, demanding an increase in wages.
At the time the sides managed to reach an agreement. Now, however, the situation is aggravated by the aforementioned AI, which may prove to be a very difficult issue to resolve.
