SAG-AFTRA Calls Strike Against Major Video Game Companies Over AI

SAG-AFTRA has announced a strike against major video game companies after nearly two years of unsuccessful negotiations to renegotiate its Interactive Media Agreement. The strike will commence on July 26 at 12:01 a.m., following a strike authorization vote by nearly 35,000 members in September. The primary issues driving the strike include concerns over artificial intelligence (AI) provisions and wages not keeping pace with inflation. The union fears that companies could use AI to replicate actors' voices or create digital replicas without consent or fair compensation.

The companies involved in the strike include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions, VoiceWorks Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. Despite finding common ground on 24 out of 25 proposals, the failure to agree on AI protections has led to the strike. The last strike by SAG-AFTRA against gaming companies, which lasted 183 days, occurred in 2016-17. As negotiations remain stalled, the companies have expressed their readiness to return to the table to resolve the ongoing dispute.