In a post published recently on the SAG-AFTRA site, it was confirmed that a new deal has brought about a tentative end to the 300-day video game actors’ strike that has been the talk of the town for months. The official suspension of the strike landed at noon PT on June 11, with all SAG-AFTRA members being instructed to simply return to work.
Today, June 12, a special forum is being held to further consider the agreement and, in the best-case scenario, ratify it. It was in July 2024 that the actors’ strike kicked off under SAG-AFTRA.
Long Time Coming
The suspension of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and potentially the full resolution, arrives after years of negotiations concerning the use of AI replication in video games. Over time, developers are relying more on artificial intelligence solutions to speed up the cost of building games and to drive down costs. Unfortunately, the advancement of AI technology has impacted voice actors.
As the SAG-AFTRA strike has played out, some industry actors have taken matters into their own hands, forming partnerships and alliances designed to spread awareness of these critical concerns.
For instance, I caught up with Neil Newbon at the BAFTA Games Awards this year to discuss AI integrations in game development and to learn more about his ‘Pixel Pack’ initiative.
He said:
There’s a lot of talk about AI performers, it’s honestly boring as hell, nobody really wants to use them. I have spoken to many people in the industry, developers as well.
The problem is awareness of this, it’s making people aware that these actors are doing such incredible, sometimes very challenging experiences, in a good way… But they deserve to be honoured.
In March 2025, close negotiations ultimately broke down, resulting in another extension of the lengthy SAG-AFTRA strike. The hope now is that all parties involved can gather on some kind of middle ground to resolve the situation before it worsens.
Let me know your thoughts about the AI debate on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that GTA Online’s next update takes you to a car wash
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
Developers need to strike they don’t get paid enough or taken care of not to mention recent mass layoffs now Google buyouts