SAG-AFTRA has provided an updated overview of its ongoing negotiations with the video game industry over AI protections for performers, revealing that while some progress has been made, there remains a significant gap between the union’s proposals and those of the industry bargaining group. The union describes the current state of talks as “frustratingly far apart” on several critical issues surrounding digital replica rights, generative AI usage, and performer consent.
To illustrate the divide, SAG-AFTRA released a comparative chart outlining key discrepancies between their proposed terms and those offered by the games industry bargaining group—a coalition representing most major AAA studios. Among the unresolved matters are:
- Broad AI protection: SAG-AFTRA is pushing for coverage against digital replica or generative AI use across all past and future work, not just performances created after the agreement takes effect.
- Definition of "digital replica": The union seeks a definition encompassing any vocal or movement performance "readily identifiable or attributable" to a performer, while the bargaining group prefers "objectively identifiable," which SAG-AFTRA argues could exclude many performances.
- Inclusion of "movement" performers: SAG-AFTRA advocates for motion-capture artists to be included under AI protections, a point the other side has not yet agreed to.
- Terminology for AI-generated content: The union supports using the phrase “real-time generation,” whereas the industry prefers “procedural generation,” a term with existing technical implications in gaming that could muddy the meaning.
- Transparency around voice blending: SAG-AFTRA wants employers to disclose whether an actor’s voice will be merged with others to create a digital replica—something the industry group has not agreed to include.
- Disclosure of chatbot use: Performers should know if their voice will be used in real-time AI chatbots capable of generating unscripted dialogue versus being limited to pre-scripted lines.
- Strike clauses: In the event of a strike, SAG-AFTRA opposes the continued use of digital replicas, particularly in struck projects, while employers want to maintain such rights.
- Duration of consent: SAG-AFTRA proposes a five-year limit on digital replica use, requiring renewal afterward; the industry seeks indefinite rights to unlimited dialogue.
- Compensation standards: There's still no consensus on minimum payments for digital replica creation and use, although both sides have tentatively aligned on how bonus pay should be calculated.
- Bonus rights provisions: The industry has proposed a clause similar to one in the SAG-AFTRA TV/Film contract that grants scheduling flexibility in exchange for higher pay. However, SAG-AFTRA warns this could undermine union protections unless more restrictive boundaries are applied.
- Usage tracking systems: The union wants a mechanism to monitor how often and in what ways digital replicas are used to ensure fair compensation, but the industry group claims this isn't feasible and only agrees to discuss it conditionally.
- Regulation of fully synthetic characters: Definitions around AI-generated characters (those not based on specific performers) remain contested.
Despite these unresolved points, SAG-AFTRA acknowledges tentative agreements on several aspects, including dispute resolution procedures, elements of minimum compensation, consent requirements, and certain disclosure obligations. Nevertheless, the union expressed concern that industry representatives are misleading members into believing a deal is near when, in fact, the two parties remain far from alignment.
In a message to members, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and chief negotiator, noted that employers are feeling pressure due to the prolonged strike and the backlog of signed but unfinished projects. As a result, companies may attempt to recruit non-member performers or those outside the traditional pool of game actors to fill roles, potentially undermining the union’s efforts and exposing workers to exploitation without proper safeguards.
“If you’re approached for such a role, we urge you to seriously consider the consequences. Not only would you be undermining the efforts of your fellow members, but you would be putting yourself at risk by working without protections against A.I. misuse. And 'A.I. misuse' is just a nice way of saying that these companies want to use your performance to replace you — without consent or compensation.”
Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game industry bargaining group, responded by stating:
“We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15% for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor’s performance in other games. We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal.”
The SAG-AFTRA video game strike has now stretched beyond eight months. It was initiated primarily due to disagreements over AI-related clauses, even though 24 out of 25 other contract proposals had already been accepted by both parties. Initially, the effects of the strike were less visible in released titles, but recent developments show clear signs of impact across the industry.
Players have begun noticing missing voiceovers in popular live-service games like *Destiny 2* and *World of Warcraft*, where certain NPCs appear unvoiced in otherwise fully voiced sequences. Last year, SAG-AFTRA escalated action against Riot Games after alleging the company attempted to circumvent the strike by canceling a project. Additionally, Activision confirmed that characters in *Call of Duty: Black Ops 6* were recast following player concerns about altered voice performances.
Today, two voice actors for *Zenless Zone Zero* revealed they were replaced after spotting changes in the game’s latest patch notes, further underscoring the real-world consequences of the ongoing labor conflict.
