Game actors are deliberating on a fresh union contract. This decision could potentially influence the future of artificial intelligence integration within gaming.
After an 11-month strike by video game performers in Los Angeles, a tentative agreement has been ratified with 90% support from union members. The new contract, which is up for vote by union members until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific, includes several key provisions aimed at addressing the concerns of video game performers.
## Key Provisions of the Proposed Contract
1. **Pay Raises**: The contract secures an increase in performer compensation of just over 15% upon ratification, with an additional 3% increase each year of the three-year contract [4].
2. **Control Over Likenesses**: Performers will have more control over their likenesses, which is crucial for maintaining their artistic identity [1][2].
3. **AI Protections**: The agreement includes clear restrictions on how video game companies can create digital replicas using AI, providing a safeguard against unregulated use of AI that could displace human performers [1][2][3].
The strike, which began on July 26, 2024, was a response to the lack of protections for performers in the previous contract, especially regarding AI use [3][5]. Elmaleh, a voice actor and the lead negotiator, has taken on the role in a volunteer capacity.
More than 160 games signed interim agreements accepting the AI provisions that SAG-AFTRA was seeking. Some games were delayed or had to use existing voice-overs due to the strike, such as "OD," "Physint," and new skins in "League of Legends."
The video game industry, a massive global industry that generated an estimated US$187 billion in 2024, has been under scrutiny for its treatment of performers. The proposed contract "builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union" to deliver "historic wage increases" and "industry-leading AI provisions" [1].
Elmaleh expresses anticipation for returning to video game acting in a safer landscape for performers. She believes that the agreement is a significant step forward for video game performers who have been negotiating for better terms and protections in the face of rapidly evolving technologies like AI. The agreement requires employers to obtain written permission from a performer to create a digital replica, which is valid during their lifetime and after death unless otherwise limited.
The agreement also includes a usage report that employers must provide to performers, detailing how the replica was used and calculating the expected compensation. Elmaleh hopes for collaborative development of AI guidelines with video game companies as technology evolves. The tentative agreement in the video game industry focuses on consent, compensation, and transparency.
The ratification of this contract marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to ensure fair treatment for video game performers as they navigate the complexities of the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
In the light of the new contract, technology companies in the video game industry are now required to obtain written consent from performers before creating digital replicas, safeguarding performers' artistic identity in the face of advancements in AI technology. Meanwhile, the agreement ensures a more equitable sharing of profits as performers will receive a detailed usage report regarding the replica's use and the expected compensation.
