Activision Replaces Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Voice Actors Amid Ongoing SAG-AFTRA Strike

Amidst the SAG-AFTRA strike, Activision has confirmed the recasting of certain voice actors in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The change was noticed by players who observed that characters William Peck and Samantha Maxis sounded different. Voice actor Zeke Alton, who originally played Peck in the Zombies mode, acknowledged that his performance had been replaced and that he had been removed from the game's credits. According to a clause known as Side Letter Six, work on interactive media can continue during a strike, allowing Activision to replace striking actors since Black Ops 6 was in development before July 2024. Alton expressed concern for his professional brand, as the lack of crediting for the replacement actor might imply that he was still involved. In a statement, Activision expressed respect for the performers' decisions and declined to comment further on the ongoing negotiations with SAG-AFTRA. The company looks forward to a mutually beneficial outcome as soon as possible. Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA has announced a new agreement for video game localization, which includes protections against generative AI abuse and employment opportunities for performers. The Independent Interactive Localisation Agreement will cover projects scripted and released in a foreign language and then dubbed into English.