Hollywood voice-over and motion-capture actors for video games signed a new contract with video game studios on Wednesday that focuses on artificial intelligence protections, ending a nearly year-long strike, SAG-AFTRA, the union for video game voice-over and motion-capture actors, said in a press release.
“Artificial intelligence is at the heart of our proposed package,” video game voice actor and negotiating committee member Sarah Elmaleh told Reuters after the new deal was approved.
Elmaleh, a voice actor for popular games such as Final Fantasy XV and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, said she knows it’s crucial to ensure there’s a baseline for how artificial intelligence can be used ethically in the gaming industry.
New protections include consent and disclosure requirements for the use of AI-powered digital copies, and the ability of performers to suspend consent to the generation of new material during the strike.
“This agreement makes important progress in protecting artificial intelligence, and progress is the name of the game,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in the association’s statement.
The deal applies to video game studios Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games.
“On behalf of the video game producers who are parties to this agreement, we are pleased that SAG-AFTRA members have approved the new Interactive Media Agreement, which will provide performers with historic wage increases, industry-leading AI protections, and enhanced health and safety measures,” Video Game Studios spokesperson Audrey Cooling said in a press release.
The new interactive media agreement, which takes effect immediately, was approved by SAG-AFTRA members in a 95.04% to 4.96% vote, ratifying the agreement and ending the video game strike that was paused pending approval.
The new contract also provides for more performer safety measures, which is a particular concern for performers in motion-capture video games.
“There are people who not only voice these characters but also lend their bodies to these characters,” Elmaleh said.
Motion capture actors will have medical personnel present during their high-risk work.
The agreement also provides that, upon approval, performer compensation will increase compounded by 15.17%, with an additional 3% increase in November 2025, November 2026 and November 2027.
Video game voice actors and motion capture performers have begun work stoppages after contract negotiations over worker protections related to artificial intelligence failed, adding to another shutdown in Hollywood that followed a double strike by writers and actors in 2023.
The strike sparked larger calls for action across Hollywood, as industry insiders called for a law that would protect them from the risks of artificial intelligence.
The Stop Faking Act is a bipartisan bill in Congress that would make it illegal to use artificial intelligence to copy someone’s likeness and voice without their permission. The bill is backed by the Screen Actors Guild, the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Academy and Disney.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
