Video game performers are on strike in the US because of artificial intelligence (AI).

The union representing the performers called the strike after discussions about a wide-reaching contract that could protect performers broke down.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) said the new contract would stop top games studios like Activision, Electronic Arts, Insomniac and Blindlight from using generative AI to recreate performers’ likenesses.

More than 2,500 performers represented by SAG-AFTRA are now barred from lending their services to any games impacted by the strike.

That includes acting, singing, dancing, stunts, motion capture, auditions, camera tests, rehearsals, authorising the use of one’s voice or likeness, background and stand-in work.

‘Enough is enough’

“We’re not going to consent to a contract that allows companies to abuse AI to the detriment of our members,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement on Thursday. “Enough is enough.”

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Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, said in a statement: “We are disappointed the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations.

“Our offer is directly responsive to SAG-AFTRA’s concerns and extends meaningful AI protections.”

Why are performers so worried about AI?

“There is a hypothetical world where someone could try and use generative AI to completely generate a character based on a performer” because of a contract they signed years ago, said Video Games Industry Memo author George Osborn to Sky News.

But for actors who do motion capture work, like stunts or animal movements, or create the noises of monsters and different background characters, the threat isn’t so hypothetical.

“The generic stuff is the easiest thing for generative AI to replace, right?” said Mr Osborn.

“Just saying to the model, ‘make 200 monster noises’ is much easier than convincingly [making AI] sound like it is having a conversation with someone,” he said.

How could it impact you?

Unlike the SAG-AFTRA actors’ strike in 2023, which saw blockbusters like Deadpool 3 and Gladiator 2 delayed and entire TV series cancelled, huge delays to games are unlikely.

Games take years to make and any game already in development before September 2023 is exempt from the strike.

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The performers’ union did warn big titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 could be impacted indirectly, however, by workers striking in solidarity.

“Their production is also subject to being disrupted by members who don’t want to work without the protection of AI terms and who don’t want to undermine solidarity with the union,” said SAG-AFTRA’s chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez to science news site Inverse on Monday.

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Equity, the UK’s performing arts and entertainment union, put out a statement on Friday saying it “stands in total solidarity” with the strikers.

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However, “SAG-AFTRA’s dispute is not lawful under United Kingdom law. Whilst we stand in solidary, this is not an Equity dispute, and you are free to accept work,” it said.

“I think this is more likely to be a behind-the-scenes pain in the backside for a lot of these bigger companies,” said Mr Osborn, “and less of an impact on players unless it runs for a very long time.”

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