Hollywood video game performers have gone on strike, citing concerns over artificial intelligence protections in a proposed new contract. It follows a year and a half of talks over a new contract between the games studios.
“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse 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 performers, said in a statement. “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.”
In the video game industry, actors often lend their voice and likeness to projects while motion-capture is an important part of game development. Despite success on other points, video game companies and SAG have been unable to find common ground on AI.
The performers are worried about gaming studios using generative AI to reproduce their voices and physical appearance to animate video game characters without offering fair compensation.
The strike includes the following studios: Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions, VoiceWorks Productions and WB Games.
