UPDATE 2.30pm UK: Negotiators on behalf of video game companies bargaining with SAG-AFTRA have responded to news of the continuing actors’ strike.
“We have proposed a deal that includes wage increases of over 15 percent for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games, as well as enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor’s performance in other games,” wrote Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game producers party to the Interactive Media Agreement, in a statement shared with Eurogamer.
“We have made meaningful progress and are eager to return to the bargaining table to reach a deal.”
ORIGINAL STORY 10am UK: The SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike is set to continue, as the union behind the walkout warned of “alarming loopholes” allowing for “AI abuse” in the latest proposal to end the industrial action, suggesting a deal is still far from close.
Actors from the US union have been on strike since July last year, as the union negotiates with various video game companies on the Interactive Media Agreement. The biggest sticking point is protecting actors from AI abuse.
In a message sent to members last night and shared with Eurogamer, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and chair of the Interactive Media Negotiating Committee Sarah Elmaleh provided an update on why the strike remains in effect.
“Though progress has been made and agreements have been reached on certain provisions since we launched our strike last year, the last proposal the bargaining group made is still filled with alarming loopholes that will leave our members vulnerable to AI abuse,” the message reads.