Have you ever wondered who’s behind some of the voices of your favorite video game characters? Actors are the reason that these characters have iconic voice-overs. But did you know that video game actors are on the brink of a strike?
The video game industry is massive and generates billions of dollars in revenue each year. However, there has been an ongoing issue between the developers and the actors who lend their voices to these games.
So, what exactly is the full reason why these actors are striking, and is it justified? We’ll explain everything we’ve found out about the strike and more. Keep reading to see if the strike is set to go ahead.
SAG-AFTRA are members of the AFL-CIO and are known as the biggest federation of unions in the United States. Essentially, the organization brings together two unions in the entertainment industry: the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild.
This company is a labor union that represents performers in the entertainment industry in the United States. Its primary function is to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements on behalf of actors and writers.
These agreements establish working conditions, minimum wage, and other benefits for performers working in the entertainment industry, whether it’s film, TV, or games.
In May 2023, the Writers Guild of America, which represents over 11,000 writers, decided to go on strike because of labor disputes with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. According to Harper Bazaar, it’s been the biggest disruption to the film and TV industry since the start of the pandemic.
Awards shows such as the Emmys have been put on hold because of the strike, and the Venice Film Festival had fewer attendees this year. Actors have been striking because of the financial implications streaming sites have on their careers.
Some actors are concerned about how they’ll be paid for reruns of shows on streaming sites. Additionally, there are also concerns about the use of AI that uses the likeness of actors without consulting or paying them.
Recently, SAG-AFTER voted to approve any strikes to take place for actors performing in video games. Although the vote had a 98% approval rate, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the strike will take place. But if negotiations aren’t met, a strike is likely to happen.
With that being said, popular video games such as Hogwarts Legacy made $1 billion in revenue, and video game console sales are up. There is no need to underpay these voice actors for their work as the industry is booming.
According to the Daily Mail, voice actors have similar demands to those of the actors striking in Hollywood. Their concerns are also over the use of Artificial Intelligence that uses their likeness to create video games.
Actors for video games also want safer working environments when doing motion capture work.
Voice actors for these video games can have demanding jobs and sometimes have to do stunts and motion capture work to bring games to life.
Additionally, video game actors may have to do multiple characters for a game, which can be extremely difficult to achieve. They have to embody different personalities and memorize lengthy dialogues.
Actors are asking that they have at least a 5-minute per hour rest period when they’re off camera to recuperate. They also want medics to be on stand-by when doing risky stunts for games.
According to the SAG-AFTRA website, the Interactive Media Agreement Committee has been negotiating and bargaining for over a year now with video game developers. However, the employers of these companies have refused to agree to the actor’s vital terms.
These terms include fair wages that keep up with inflation and protection against the use of Artificial Intelligence. Video game companies are using artificial intelligence without consulting actors or compensating them for their likeness. SAG-AFTRA recently had another bargaining session, but if the negotiations are not met, the strike will commence.
This means that you may have to wait longer for video games that are set to be released in the coming year. If you’re looking for entertainment while you wait, you can visit the McLuck Blog to find other games that you may enjoy playing.
Let’s hope the unions and the game development companies can come to an agreement to avoid strikes. Keep your eyes peeled on the news to stay updated on the latest developments on the video game actor’s strike and what this means for new game releases.
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