Last July, SAG-AFTRA authorized a voice actors strike against the major video game publishers, largely over the issue of AI protections. Nearly 300 days later, that’s still the final point of contention between both sides. Now, the publishers have released what they characterize as the “best and last” offer for actors. And the actors have fired back with their counteroffer, all in the court of public opinion.
As noted by Variety, the latest contract proposals between the studios and the actors have found common ground on most of the terms for a new deal. That includes 24% wage increases over the life of the contract. But the two sides’ lack of agreement over generative AI continues to prolong the strike.
Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game publishers, told Variety that, “We are hopeful the union will not choose to walk away when we are so close to a deal.”
In response, SAG-AFTRA noted that the video game publishers presented their latest offer on April 30, and the actors responded with a counter-proposal on May 2. According to the actors, the publishers didn’t respond to that before making the negotiation terms public. SAG-AFTRA subsequently released its proposal online as well.
“SAG-AFTRA condemns the video game companies’ attempt to sow confusion in the community by releasing misleading rhetoric about our ongoing negotiations,” said the union through a spokesperson. “The statement suggesting that the union would ‘walk away’ from negotiations on this contract is absurd and the opposite of the truth. It is the employers who have threatened–through backchannel representatives–to move work to foreign countries and recast performers, in an unsuccessful effort to intimidate our negotiating committee and membership to capitulate to their demands.”
Voice actors from Spider-Man, Resident Evil, and Mass Effect have previously spoken out about why the performers need protections from AI that could potentially recreate their voices without compensating the performers. Until that issue is resolved, it appears the strike will continue.
