The role of video game performers—who do far more than “voice acting” in today’s world of performance capture—is often an unsung one, with only extremely prolific actors like Troy Baker managing to breach mainstream consciousness. Perhaps this is why execs seem so desperate to replace them with AI.
SAG-AFTRA, the union that oversees eligible video game actors, has been negotiating with big names in the industry for more than a year and a half, according to union president Fran Drescher. These negotiations were begun with the goal of implementing robust protections for actors to prevent abuse of AI by studios, including training models based on their voices without compensation or even replacing them with AI altogether. Discussions have evidently stalled, so SAG-AFTRA reached for the nuclear option: a strike with the potential to bring the entire industry to a halt.
The strike was approved by a 98.32 percent vote among members and goes into effect tomorrow, July 26. Affected companies include some of the industry’s biggest names, like heavy hitters Activision-Blizzard, EA, Take-Two Interactive, WB Games, and even Disney. The message seems clear: if these companies won’t value their human actors, they can’t have them.
It’s no surprise the corporations are unwilling to come to the table on this specific issue, given the way AI has steadily begun to pervade other aspects of the game industry.
This is a breaking story. This article will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
