SAG-AFTRA gains momentum in video game strike as 80 studios sign agreements with AI protections

SAG-AFTRA Thursday announced that 80 video game studios and developers have signed tiered-budget or interim agreements with the union to keep hiring performers during the work stoppage during its ongoing strike over the Interactive Media Agreement, as reported by Deadline.

Among the studios agreeing to SAG-AFTRA’s terms are Studio Wildcard and Little Bat Games, according to the union. Some of these companies have even gone beyond necessity, voluntarily signing interim agreements to retroactively offer AI protections for completed projects not covered by the current strike.

“These agreements signal that the video game companies in the collective bargaining group do not represent the will of the larger video game industry. The many companies that are happy to agree to our AI terms prove that these terms are not only reasonable, but feasible and sustainable for businesses,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, in a statement.

While the union did not release a full list of companies that signed agreements, nor specify how many chose tiered-budget agreements versus interim deals, it did highlight that all agreements include AI safeguards — a central issue in the strike.

Tiered-budget agreements, long offered to independent studios, allow companies to operate under separate terms from those involved in the work stoppage. In contrast, an interim agreement commits a studio to adhere to SAG-AFTRA’s proposed terms for the Interactive Media Agreement before its finalization, particularly around AI provisions.

The union’s strike, launched in July, directly targets 10 major developers after over 18 months of negotiations collapsed, primarily over AI concerns. Companies affected by the stoppage include industry giants such as Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and WB Games.

According to reports, Lightspeed L.A., founded by game producer Steve Martin, Wednesday became the latest studio to sign the Interim Interactive Media Agreement, ensuring their projects would be produced under what the union calls “common sense AI protections.”

As previously reported, the central issue in these talks is AI. While SAG-AFTRA has found consensus with game developers on other matters, negotiations have stalled on including AI protections for all performers, particularly those whose voice or likeness may not be easily recognizable, such as motion capture actors or voice artists playing non-human characters.

“This labor action is about creating work with sufficient AI protections,” said Sarah Elmaleh, Chair of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee. “The sheer volume of companies that have signed SAG-AFTRA agreements demonstrates how reasonable those protections are. We are thrilled for our actors to continue working under fair union contracts with companies who know how invaluable our performers are to their games,” added Sarah.

In response, a spokesperson for the video game companies defended their stance, said they have “worked hard to deliver proposals with reasonable terms that protect the rights of performers while ensuring we can continue to use the most advanced technology to create great entertainment experiences for fans.”

About Author

SSZee Media

Provider of Quality Entertainment News and Information

See author's posts