Video Game Performers Ready to Strike for Better Pay and Protections, Reports Reuters

By Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Cissy Jones, a voice actor, is not seeking millions for her contributions to video games. However, she and her peers, who perform under a contract with the Screen Actors Guild, argue that they need higher pay to contend with rising living costs.

"We haven’t seen a pay increase in four or five years, while prices continue to rise," noted Jones, a BAFTA award winner recognized for her voice role as Delilah in the video game "Firewatch." She is protected under a SAG-AFTRA contract with video game developers.

Recently, voice actors and motion capture performers in the lucrative video game industry voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if upcoming contract negotiations do not yield satisfactory results, which could lead to another work stoppage in Hollywood.

SAG-AFTRA reported that 34,687 members participated in the vote, representing 27.47% of the eligible membership.

This union represents not only video game performers but also film and television actors, who recently went on strike, marking the first time in over 60 years that Hollywood has faced two simultaneous work stoppages.

In May, approximately 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America had also walked off the job but recently reached a preliminary agreement with major studios.

The current SAG-AFTRA agreement for video game performers expired last November and has been temporarily extended monthly while negotiations continue with major game developers.

"We all want a fair contract that reflects the contributions of performers represented by SAG-AFTRA in an industry providing world-class entertainment to millions of gamers globally," stated spokesperson Audrey Cooling on behalf of the companies involved.

Concerns Over AI

The video game industry generated $180.3 billion in revenue in 2021 and is projected to reach $218.8 billion by 2024, according to data analytics firm Newzoo. With an increase in video game console sales in 2023, Sony announced its expectation to sell 25 million PS5 consoles this year, setting a record for PlayStation devices.

As profits surge, more video game company staff members beyond SAG-AFTRA performers have started to unionize. In July, employees at Sega formed the largest multi-department video game union in the U.S. after Microsoft’s video game testers established their first labor union earlier this year.

In addition to compensation, SAG-AFTRA performers are advocating for increased consultation regarding the use of artificial intelligence by companies like Disney, Activision, EA, and Epic Games in creating voices for characters, an area where some companies are already active.

AI has emerged as a contentious issue for writers and striking actors across television, film, and streaming sectors as well.

For video game performers, the union is also pushing for enhanced safety measures for motion capture artists who wear sensors on their bodies to facilitate character movement creation.

"These performers do stunts and bring characters to life. They memorize dialogue to match timing and embody different roles," explained actor Ashly Burch, who is experienced in both motion capture and voice work for video games.

The union is requesting that on-camera performers receive the same five-minute rest period per hour as off-camera performers. Additionally, they ask for a medical professional to be present during high-risk stunts, akin to film and television sets.

For Jones, concerns surrounding AI became personal when she discovered that a fan on social media was using an AI-generated version of her voice in videos derived from the animated show "The Owl House."

"I panicked," she recounted. "This is how I provide for my family. I couldn’t believe someone had taken my voice without my consent."