LOS ANGELES – Exciting news for video game performers! After an intense month-long strike, agreements have been reached with 80 games that have embraced the artificial intelligence provisions requested by the performers’ union.
Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists initiated the strike in July due to stalled negotiations with major game industry players over AI protections, fearing that their work could be replicated by AI without consent or proper compensation.
The agreements were announced by SAG-AFTRA on Thursday, allowing impacted performers to resume work on those projects. However, the strike continues against other key video game publishers like Disney, Warner Bros., and Electronic Arts Productions Inc.
The interim agreement includes wage enhancements, protections against exploitative AI uses, and safety measures for physical and vocal performance stresses. The tiered budget agreement makes it easier for independent developers to work with union talent while maintaining necessary protections.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the national executive director of SAG-AFTRA, praised the companies for upholding human art and creativity in interactive storytelling through these agreements.
The union also announced a deal with game development studio Lightspeed L.A., allowing them to utilize union talent for current and future games like “Last Sentinel” under the interim agreement despite the ongoing strike.
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