After months of negotiations with Activision, Epic Games and other big publishers and studios over higher pay, better safety measures, and protections for new generative artificial intelligence technology, video game actors are set to enter 2017 The first strike since. A year after Hollywood actors and writers ended their own historic strike, they will take to the picket lines, an escalation that could have major consequences for the development and marketing of some of the industry’s biggest games.
Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) voted last fall to authorize a strike, citing the reluctance of major game companies to ensure actors’ rights to have their work used to train artificial intelligence or create creative works. concession. Approximately 2,600 voice actors and motion capture artists, including talent from Troy Baker the last of usJennifer Hale from Mass EffectWith Matt Mercer from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomhas been working without an interactive media agreement since November 2022.
“The video game industry generates billions of dollars in profits every year. The driving force behind this success are the creative people who design and create these games,” chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. “This includes SAG-AFTRA members who bring memorable and beloved gaming characters to life, who deserve and demand the same basic protections as film, television, streaming and music performers: fair pay and artificial intelligence The right to informed consent for the use of their faces, voices, and bodies. Frankly, it’s shocking that these video game studios haven’t learned anything from the lessons of the past year—our members can and will stand up and demand the right to use their faces, voices, and bodies. The intellectual side is treated fairly and equitably, and the public supports us in this.
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“We are disappointed that the union chose to withdraw when we were so close to an agreement, and we remain ready to resume negotiations,” Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the company involved in the Interactive Media agreement, said in an emailed statement. “We have worked on 25 proposals.” Common ground was found on 24 of the measures, including historic wage increases and additional security provisions. Our proposal directly responds to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and expands meaningful AI protections, including requirements for all under the IMA. Performers who work receive consent and fair compensation are among the most powerful terms in the entertainment industry.
While the game is set to launch this fall, e.g. Dragon Age: Veiled GuardWho is Recently announced dubbing lineup Including several guild members who may have completed their voice and motion capture work, the strike means that SAG-AFTRA members will not be able to work on the project for years to come, and will not be available for any possible last-minute re-recordings. And write. In the past, games relied much less on actors’ performances, but now most popular franchises are fully voiced, and the biggest-budget productions use motion capture to transfer actors’ real-life performances into the game frame by frame. .
Video game actor’s last appearance 2016 strike, which was mainly due to excessive salary levels and lasted throughout the year. It’s unclear whether the strike will end sooner. Unlike the issue of higher pay, people involved in current negotiations say the lack of AI protections poses an existential threat to actors and their creative output. Just this week, wired report Companies like Activision Blizzard and Riot Games are advancing the use of generative AI tools to help create concept art and even potential assets that could be made into finished games, e.g. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3.
“Eighteen months of negotiations have shown us that our employer is not interested in fair and reasonable protection of artificial intelligence, but in blatant exploitation,” bargaining committee chair Sarah Elmaleh said in a statement. “We reject this. model – we won’t leave any members behind and won’t wait any longer for adequate protections. We look forward to working with the team on our interim and independent contracts that provide AI transparency, consent and compensation for all performers. , and continue to negotiate in good faith with this negotiating group when they are ready to join our world.
SAG-AFTRA Video Game Voice Actors will host a panel featuring Ashly Burch (Horizon: Forbidden West), Noshir Dala (Red Dead Redemption 2: Redemption) and others at San Diego Comic-Con Later this week, July 26.
Updated July 25, 2024 at 3:42 pm ET: Added statement from the game company.
