SAG-AFTRA video game strike continues as more talks planned

SAG-AFTRA will continue to strike against the major video game companies as talks over a new deal have been extended again.

Negotiations on a new interactive media agreement resumed on Wednesday, marking the first official negotiations between the two parties since the SAG-AFTRA strike in July. Negotiations have continued on and off, but since November 2022 the sides have been operating without a contract.

No new dates have been announced so far and the strike will remain in effect until a new agreement is reached.

Artificial intelligence was and is the big sticking point in these negotiations. The contract covers video game voice talent and performance capture talent, and the union has repeatedly raised the alarm about how AI could negatively impact those jobs.

Over the past three months, SAG-AFTRA has held intermittent pickets at the Los Angeles offices of several video game companies, including WB Games and Disney Character Voices. The union has not announced any further picketing, the last one taking place last week just before talks resumed.

In another blow to the big companies, the union has signed agreements with more than 100 other video game companies and developers that have agreed to the terms that SAG-AFTRA says it will also propose to this 10-member bargaining unit of the big companies.

The affected gamer companies are Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games.

In its recent statement to Deadline, a spokesperson for the video game companies rejected SAG-AFTRA’s characterization of the talks, saying the companies “have worked hard to put forward proposals with appropriate terms and conditions that protect cast members’ rights while ensuring we can move forward.” “Using the most advanced technology to provide fans with great entertainment experiences.”