The video game actors’ strike may be over soon

American Screen Actors Guild members have reached a “tentative” contract agreement with major gaming companies that could potentially end the 11-month-long video game actors’ strike.

SAG-AFTRA announced the tentative contract on Monday without specifying terms or protections for performers. The strike began on July 26th, 2024, after the union and a bargaining committee of video game companies — including Activision, Epic Games, EA, Disney Character Voices, Take-Two, Insomniac Games, WB Games, and others —  failed to agree on worker protections around AI. 

“It is expected the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with employers soon,” SAG-AFTRA announced. “Until such agreement is reached, however, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike against these employers.”

The contract  is subject to approval by the SAG-AFTRA national board and is expected to be put to a ratification vote with union members “in the coming weeks.” If all goes well, the lengthy list of restrictions preventing SAG-AFTRA’s approximately 160,000 members from undertaking video game projects will be lifted, alleviating some development headaches for new titles.

“Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike,” SAG-AFTRA’s Chief Negotiator, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, said in the announcement. “Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defend performers’ livelihoods in the AI age, alongside other important gains.”