US actors union suspends year-long video game strike following "tentative agreement" over AI

Days after saying a “tentative settlement” had been reached with key online game firms, US actors union SAG-AFTRA has referred to as off its practically year-long strike, instructing members to return work on productions that fall underneath its Interactive Media Settlement.

The Display screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Tv and Radio Artists, which represents round 160,000 members, introduced a strike affecting all work underneath its Interactive Media Settlement – which incorporates online game voice performing and different roles – final July. The transfer got here after the union failed to achieve an settlement with main online game firms because it renegotiated the phrases of the contract, regardless of greater than 18 months of discussions.

Whereas SAG-AFTRA had efficiently managed to barter on a wide range of essential points – together with wages in-line with inflation, and job security – adequate protections in opposition to the exploitative use of AI remained a key sticking level. Again in March, eight months after the strike started, SAG-AFTRA stated proposals from online game firms have been nonetheless stuffed with “alarming loopholes that may depart our members susceptible to AI abuse”.

Earlier this week, nonetheless, SAG-AFTRA introduced it had lastly reached a “tentative settlement” with firms together with Activision, Digital Arts, Epic Video games, Insomniac Video games, and Warner Bros. that included the “needed AI guardrails” it had been pushing for. And now, following that information, SAG-AFTRA nationwide government director & chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Eire has formally suspended the strike in opposition to the businesses signatory to the Interactive Media Settlement, as of midday PT at present.

“All SAG-AFTRA members are instructed to return to work on productions underneath the IMA,” the union wrote in its announcement, “together with work selling or publicising tasks produced underneath the IMA. The SAG-AFTRA Nationwide Board will meet in particular session tomorrow, twelfth June, 2025, to think about the tentative settlement. If accepted, it is going to be despatched out for ratification by the union’s membership in accordance with established coverage.”

Yesterday, UK actors’ union Fairness applauded the “tenacity and persistence” of SAG-AFTRA members after information of the tentative settlement broke. Fairness protested outdoors the BAFTA Video games Awards in April, calling on the video games trade to enhance situations for performers, together with higher pay and phrases and situations for his or her work, in addition to AI protections.