AI Showdown: Video Game Performers Strike for AI Protections

TL;DR:

• Over 2,600 video game performers represented by SAG-AFTRA are on strike, primarily over AI protections.
• The strike, which began on July 26, 2024, affects major gaming companies like Activision, Disney, and Electronic Arts.
• Performers demand consent and fair compensation for AI-generated use of their voices, faces, and bodies.

In a groundbreaking move, video game performers represented by SAG-AFTRA have initiated a strike against major gaming companies. The primary concern? Artificial Intelligence (AI) protections. This strike, which began on July 26, 2024, affects over 2,600 voice and motion-capture actors in the video game industry.

Timing and Scope

The walkout commenced at 12:01 AM on July 26, 2024. This labor action, authorized by an overwhelming 98.32% of SAG-AFTRA members, encompasses a wide range of roles. These include off-camera and on-camera performers, stunt coordinators, singers, and puppeteers. The strike affects all 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members, as the union has declared that every member is covered by the strike order.

Main Issues: AI Protections

At the heart of the strike lies the demand for robust AI protections. Performers are seeking consent and fair compensation for any AI-generated use of their voices, faces, and bodies. This concern stems from the potential for gaming companies to replicate performers’ work without proper authorization or remuneration. Additional issues include:

• Wage increases to keep pace with inflation.
• Enhanced safety measures for on-camera performances.
• Improved rest periods to prevent vocal strain.
• Presence of set medics for hazardous jobs.

The union argues that unregulated AI use could provide game developers with a means to replace actors, particularly in background roles that often serve as stepping stones to larger parts.

Companies and Union Stance

Major gaming companies targeted by the strike include Activision, Disney, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros., and Take-Two Interactive. SAG-AFTRA argues that AI poses an “equal or even greater danger” to video game performers compared to film and TV actors. The union claims that companies have not offered sufficient AI protections in contract negotiations.

In response, gaming companies express disappointment in the decision to strike. They state they’ve reached agreements on 24 out of 25 proposals and offered “meaningful AI protections” that include requiring consent and fair compensation.

Historical Strikes in the Gaming Industry

The current SAG-AFTRA strike against video game companies is not without precedent in the gaming industry. In 2016, video game voice actors initiated a strike that lasted nearly a year, marking the first such action in the industry’s history. That strike, which also involved SAG-AFTRA members, focused on issues such as vocal stress, workplace safety, and compensation structures.

The resolution of the 2016-2017 strike led to some improvements in working conditions and pay for voice actors. However, certain issues remained unresolved, particularly those related to residual payments. This historical context underscores the ongoing challenges faced by performers in the video game industry. It highlights the evolving nature of labor relations in this rapidly changing technological landscape.

Potential Impacts and Context

Extended negotiations and a prolonged strike could potentially delay game development and releases. This would affect voice acting, motion capture, and other performance aspects of upcoming titles. This labor action follows the 2023 Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes, which also centered on AI concerns. It echoes a previous video game performers’ strike in 2016-2017.

The current dispute highlights the evolving landscape of the gaming industry. AI technology is increasingly intersecting with creative performances. As the $200 billion industry grapples with these challenges, the outcome of this strike may set important precedents for how AI is used and regulated in interactive entertainment.

The Role of AI in the Gaming Industry

AI has revolutionised the gaming industry in numerous ways. From creating more realistic characters to generating complex game environments, AI is integral to modern game development. However, the use of AI also raises ethical and legal questions, particularly regarding the rights of performers whose work is being replicated.

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