Support NeoGAF

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

It is expected the strike will be suspended once the terms of a strike suspension agreement are finalized with employers

Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the signatory video game companies, which include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. have reached a tentative agreement on terms for the Interactive Media Contract, subject to review and approval by the National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks. Specific details of the agreement will be released with the ratification materials.

It is expected the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with employers soon. Until such agreement is reached, however, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike against these employers.

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said, "Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike. Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers' livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains. Thank you, Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Chair Sarah Elmaleh and Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez for your hard work and advocacy in pursuit of this contract."

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated, "Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world's most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before. As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game."

SAG-AFTRA members have been on strike against video game employers since July 26, 2024. Prior to that, SAG-AFTRA members approved a video game strike authorization in September 2023 with a 98.32% yes vote.

https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-and-video-game-employers-reach-tentative-agreement-interactive-media-contract-national

 

[ByWatterson]

 

[Pejo]

Honestly, fuck SAG. With all of the drama bringing to light exactly what they were after, I hope game companies bypass them completely and continue increasing use of UK/EU english VAs. A lot of the live service games I play already moved over, so I hope it was worth it.

At least a bunch of activist VAs outed themselves over the past few weeks and lost a ton of public support. I guess that's one nice thing; we now know who the schizos are.

If I were Disney/Activision/the big players, I'd have told them to go kick rocks.

 

[Sebastian1295]

These clowns were never going to go on strike forever cause it screws there bottom line more so than any employers bottom line. They knew that they were screwed from the get go and that they had little to no leverage.

 

[Toots]

I knew Ms Crabtree had an affair with the trucker / elvis impersonator in the "City on the edge of forever episode", but to think this affair led to her having a child who became SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator is a twist i never would have guessed.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

A mafia group disguised as "union". I wish entertainment companies showed them the finger.

The Mihoyo VA drama has been delicious and I hope they don't work them anymore,.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

These clowns were never going to go on strike forever cause it screws there bottom line more so than any employers bottom line. They knew that they were screwed from the get go and that they had little to no leverage.

Why do you think the intention was to go on strike forever? Is that the purpose of a strike? To strike endlessly?

They appear to have gotten what they want on the AI safeguards.

At the end of the day this is great news for gamers, voice actors, and companies as we can get back to making and playing games.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

Why do you think the intention was to go on strike forever? Is that the purpose of a strike? To strike endlessly?

They appear to have gotten what they want on the AI safeguards.

At the end of the day this is great news for gamers, voice actors, and companies as we can get back to making and playing games.

Sure, and Santa is real.

Nope. This is not about AI. This lot wants power, nothing more. And that means having the monopoly of who enters the industry, regardless of talent. Also, they threat people online, like, you know, the actual mob.

They have exposed themselves so much that I can't believe naive people still believe in their bullshit.

 

[BbMajor7th]

Don't know much about SAG-AFTRA, but unionization is a good thing. Employers are always going to lobby hard to get what's best for them, up to individuals to get together and push back. Just negotiation at the end of the day.

 

[Brock2621]

Whether you agree or not, SAG's leverage is becoming less and less with AI growth/advancement off the charts

 

[Jinzo Prime]

Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc.

Not a single company I care about. Hope all the SAG actors are okay with a limited selection.

 

[RuneFactoryFanboy]

Nope. This is not about AI. This lot wants power, nothing more. And that means having the monopoly of who enters the industry, regardless of talent. Also, they threat people online, like, you know, the actual mob.

They have exposed themselves so much that I can't believe naive people still believe in their bullshit.

The only reason I knew about this strike is because months ago I happened to boot up Genshin Impact for a short spell and wondered where the voices were. As more info came out, turns out that game wasn't even part of the strike and it was just VAs trying to collectively ride the coat tails of it and refusing to work. Your take is absolutely right, and time has revealed these actors' true colors. They rally we should support them and their poor mistreated brethren...until someone outside of their private club lands a role then they harass them online. Seems like the whole AI thing was just a guise to sign new contracts and maintain power/control over the industry.

I'm really tired of VAs that are manipulative and dishonest for their own gain, and it's sad to see so many fans fall for it. I get that people fall in love with performances of their favorite characters and want to support who the love, and you're also going to have people in that liberal mindset of "Individual always right and good, Corporation always wrong and evil". I just think it's really exploitative to take your fans passion for a game/character/performance and leverage it for personal gain with a one-sided sob story.

 

[DaciaJC]

Honestly, fuck SAG. With all of the drama bringing to light exactly what they were after, I hope game companies bypass them completely and continue increasing use of UK/EU english VAs.

Can someone summarize this drama? I wasn't even aware that they were still striking lol.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Replace pretentious twats with AI.

Most games now are soulless husks anyhow.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Sure, and Santa is real.

Nope. This is not about AI. This lot wants power, nothing more. And that means having the monopoly of who enters the industry, regardless of talent. Also, they threat people online, like, you know, the actual mob.

They have exposed themselves so much that I can't believe naive people still believe in their bullshit.

For sure. In Ontario, you cant be a teacher unless you join the Teacher's Union. So even if you just wanted to be a part time substitute teacher or wanted to negotiate your own pay without needing to be involved with union rules and paying dues, you cant avoid it.

 

[ByWatterson]

Replace pretentious twats with AI.

Most games now are soulless husks anyhow.

I really don't understand why we should live in a world that could give us Bethesda style games from much smaller teams with literally endless dialogue options from and to NPCs......but doesn't because a union of mostly phony artists demand validation of their work.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I really don't understand why we should live in a world that could give us Bethesda style games from much smaller teams with literally endless dialogue options from and to NPCs......but doesn't because a union of mostly phony artists demand validation of their work.

Seriously. These consoles and PCs will now have AI accelerators built in going forward.

We could legit have full blown conversations with the characters going forward. Like "Siri's" in a game.

 

[Zacfoldor]

Alright boys let's see the contract. Anybody got a link?

Honestly, I'm an AI proponent so I would have went full AI a while back but especially now.

 

[VulcanRaven]

I didn't know there has been a strike going on.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I didn't know there has been a strike going on.

Most people didnt.

It goes to show how valuable the people are in making the product. At least for things like transit or garbageman workers if they strike then shit hits the fan. With media, products and company can still go on fine.

 

[Success]

Can someone summarize this drama? I wasn't even aware that they were still striking lol.

Old Man GAF is just being Old Man GAF. They have a disdain for human voice actors.

Essentially, giving employees power is a good thing. But the ageing members of GAF stopped wanting to educate themselves and are now just sticking to their old ways and beliefs.