Video Game Actors Have Voted To Authorize A Strike, If Negotiations Fail

While the Writer’s Guild strike lastly seems near a decision, movie and TV actors are nonetheless on strike–and online game voice actors and mo-cap efficiency artists appear poised to affix them. In the most recent on potential strike motion within the video games trade, SAG-AFTRA members who work on video video games have voted unanimously to authorize a strike, which means a strike might be known as at any time as negotiations proceed.

A press launch put out by SAG-AFTRA says that the vote handed 98.32% in favor of authorizing a strike, as negotiations proceed on the Interactive Media Agreement. SAG-AFTRA is negotiating on behalf of voice actors and movement seize performers with quite a few large firms concerned within the video games trade, together with Activision, Disney, EA, Insomniac Games, Epic Games, Take 2, WB Games, in addition to firms that present manufacturing providers to different main gamers within the trade.

The Interactive Media Agreement negotiations have been going for nearly a 12 months, with the union saying firms nonetheless refuse to supply acceptable phrases on necessary points together with wage progress, office security, and using AI. The subsequent bargaining session will happen over September 26 to twenty-eight, with the specter of a strike performing as added leverage.

“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” mentioned SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher. “The result of this vote shows our membership understands the existential nature of these negotiations, and that the time is now for these companies–which are making billions of dollars and paying their CEOs lavishly–to give our performers an agreement that keeps performing in video games as a viable career.”

Video recreation voice actors went on strike for the very first time in 2016-2017, with the 11 month strike leading to improved working situations and pay for voice actors. Now, the union’s industrial motion additionally contains movement seize performers, who’re more and more necessary to large AAA productions. It’s nonetheless but to be seen whether or not the following spherical of negotiations will result in an precise strike.