Game Developers of 80 Titles Partner with SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA, the performers' union, has successfully negotiated agreements with the creators of 80 upcoming games, as part of its ongoing efforts to secure improved working conditions for actors, including safeguards against AI voice modification. Several studios have signed tiered-budget or interim video game agreements, including some that were not targeted by the strike. Notable signatories include Studio Wildcard, known for ARK: Survival Evolved, and Little Bat Games, developer of Vampire Therapist. This development follows the union's first agreement with Lightspeed LA, the Tencent-owned studio behind the forthcoming sci-fi game Last Sentinel. SAG-AFTRA's national executive director, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, praised the companies that have signed the agreements, stating that they are not only treating their workers fairly but also preserving the human creativity that drives interactive storytelling. The strike, which began in July, was prompted by 18 months of unsuccessful negotiations over better working conditions, including protection against AI voice replication. The union had been in talks with a collective bargaining group that includes major industry players such as Activision, Disney, and Electronic Arts. Crabtree-Ireland noted that the agreements demonstrate that the collective bargaining group does not represent the views of the broader video game industry, and that the terms of the agreements are reasonable, feasible, and sustainable for businesses.