Video game actors union strike continues in Hollywood

He voice actors strikewho bring video game characters to life, announced the strike after 18 months of discussions with companies that failed to produce a new contract with the problem of the dispute and job insecurity in the face of the implementation of the AI in games.

Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA President and star of the 90s series “The Nanny”, expressed that “We will not accept a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members. Enough is enough”He added: “When these companies get serious and offer a deal that allows our members to live and work, we will be ready to negotiate.”

The union stresses that the unregulated use of AI represents a “equal or even greater threat” for the artists of the world of video game for film or television, due to the ability to produce and create cheaply, easily and accessibly, very similar and convincing digital replicas of the characters’ voices.

The issue of wages and job security was a point on which both associations agreed, but the problem and division What blocks a new contract is the difference of opinions on the regulations that the implementation of this new technology must have.

The agreement covers the protection of more than 2,500 artists in charge of carrying out the voice dubbing or to carry out the physical movements which are recorded in order to later design the characters. The group is made up of off-camera voice-over artists, stunt coordinators, singers, on-camera artists, dancers, puppeteers and background artists.

Key points about the strike

SAG-AFTRA demands for wages that keep up with the inflationsafety precautions related to the physical activities and performances performed by the actors and vocal stress, and the protections of the use of artificial intelligence so that it does not turn out to be a “exploitative use” as the union describes.

The main problem they observe is the reduction and job displacement due to the growing use of artificial intelligence, which due to its cost and convenience could very easily replace the roles that people play in terms of their contribution to video games.

The union held dialogue and negotiations with an industry group formed by video game companies. Are companies are: Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc., Voice Works Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.

Which video games will be affected?

Inside the world of the Fans and lovers In the video game industry, there was concern about which games would be affected by this strike. One of the most mentioned was the Grand Theft Auto VIa third-person open-world video game where a character performs actions and activities in an urban environment.

Although it belongs to the legendary series of Rockstarwhich is included in the strike, the GTA is exempt of any problem by being listed as a particular case in which those who are already involved in the project can still continue working on it and not stop its development.

He Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists communicated through his social network Xwhich will carry out the first picket from the history of Video Games Strike This Thursday, August 1st in Burbank at Warner Brothers Studios, Gate 5, on the corner of Warner Blvd. and S. Avon Street.