Video game actors went on strike early Friday morning after contract negotiations with major game studios over artificial intelligence (AI) protections broke down.
The strike by approximately 2,500 SAG-AFTRA voice actors and motion capture artists comes after nearly two years of negotiations between the union and video game producers.
The union believes that AI poses an even greater threat to voice and motion actors in the video game industry than it does to actors in films and television.
Video game actors are trying to get a new contract that would require producers to ask permission before reproducing their voices or likenesses using AI.
The last time video game actors went on strike was in October 2016, before AI became a major issue.
“We will not accept a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.
“When these companies are serious about offering an agreement that our members can live and work with, we stand ready to negotiate.”
A spokesperson for the video game makers said the studios offered “meaningful AI protections” to performers in their proposal, but the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee said the studios’ definition of who is a “performer” is key to understanding the issue of who would be protected.
Other key issues the union is calling for include wages that keep pace with inflation and safety measures for physical and vocal performances. During union negotiations, it was said that gains have been made in bargaining wages and job safety, but not in AI protections.
During last year’s Hollywood actors strikeresiduals and AI became major issues. The strike, which lasted 118 days, ended with a deal that included wage increases, AI guarantees, streaming bonuses and other improvements.
