Hollywood video game performers ended their 11-month strike following a landmark agreement that introduces new protections against the use of artificial intelligence to replicate their voices or appearances. The deal, announced by the SAG-AFTRA union, ensures that if studios create digital replicas, actors will receive compensation comparable to in-person work. This agreement marks a significant step forward in addressing concerns about AI replacing human actors without consent or fair payment.
Under the new terms, companies like Activision and Electronic Arts are now required to obtain written consent from performers before creating digital replicas of their work. Actors retain the right to suspend their consent for AI-generated material if another strike occurs. “This deal delivers historic wage increases, industry-leading AI protections and enhanced health and safety measures for performers,” Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, said in the release. The agreement also includes a wage increase of more than 15%, with additional 3% raises in November 2025, 2026, and 2027. The contract expires in October 2028.
The strike, which lasted 11 months, did not entirely halt production like the 2023 SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike in Hollywood. The 2023 strike lasted 118 days, from July 14 to November 9, and halted nearly all scripted television and film work. In contrast, video game performers were allowed to work during their strike, but only with companies that had signed interim agreements addressing AI concerns. Over 160 companies signed on, according to The Associated Press. Despite this, the year took a toll on the industry, with both strikes highlighting growing tensions between performers and studios over AI technology and fair compensation.