Vote by US Actors' Union Members Approves Strike Action in Video Game Industry

Actors in the US, who are members of the Sag-Aftra union, have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a potential strike in the video games industry. The vote, with a 98% majority, indicates the actors' dissatisfaction with the current agreement that covers voice, motion capture, and stunt work. This vote follows the ongoing strikes by actors in the film and TV industry. Writers had recently reached a tentative deal to end their five-month dispute with studio bosses. The concerns raised by actors in the film and TV industry, including pay and the use of artificial intelligence, are also being faced by actors in the video game industry. While this vote does not guarantee a new strike, it gives the union the power to call for one if negotiations, which are set to resume on Tuesday, fail. Sag-Aftra president Fran Drescher has called on video game companies to take these negotiations seriously and reach an agreement that supports performers' careers in video games. The current Sag-Aftra agreement that covers video game performers expired in November and has been on a monthly extension while negotiations took place with major video game companies such as Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Disney Character Voices. The companies have stated that they will continue to negotiate in good faith and recognize the contributions of performers in video games. They are optimistic about reaching a resolution at the bargaining table as they have already reached agreements on over half of the proposals. The video game industry has seen a rise in the involvement of A-list actors and celebrities in recent years, with many taking on character roles in voice and appearance, demonstrating the growing significance of video games as a medium for actors. Actor Idris Elba, who stars in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, believes this trend is a sign of the times.