According to news from pcgamer, After nearly a year of intense negotiations and widespread industry disruption, SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative agreement with several of the gaming industry’s most powerful publishers. The deal could mark the end of a 10-month-long video game strike centered around issues such as wage inflation and the ethical use of generative AI in voice acting.
Background: The Strike’s Origins
On July 26, 2024, the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) initiated the strike after prolonged negotiations with studios including Electronic Arts, Activision, and Epic Games. Voice actors raised concerns about stagnant pay and the increasing threat of AI replacing human performances—particularly in a post-2023 media landscape already shaped by strikes in film and television.
Earlier in the year, the union rejected a proposal that would have allowed game publishers to use voice actors’ recordings to train AI systems, sparking even more controversy after Epic Games used James Earl Jones’ voice posthumously to power a Darth Vader NPC in Fortnite.
The Tentative Agreement
On June 2025, SAG-AFTRA announced that it had reached a tentative deal with companies such as:
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Activision Productions Inc.
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Electronic Arts Productions Inc.
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Epic Games Inc.
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WB Games Inc.
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Disney Character Voices Inc.
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Take 2 Productions Inc.
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And several others
The agreement focuses on a new Interactive Media Contract that includes:
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Stronger AI Protections: Prevents the unauthorized use of actors’ voices for AI training or replication without explicit consent.
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Wage Improvements: Adjusted compensation packages that better reflect current industry standards and inflation.
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Transparency Measures: Ensures actors are informed about how their performances will be used in games and related AI applications.
Industry Impact
If ratified by union members, the contract would set a major precedent in the battle over AI rights in creative industries, potentially influencing other sectors beyond gaming.
SAG-AFTRA has stated that it will hold informational meetings before presenting the deal to members for a vote. Until then, the strike technically remains in effect, though the outlook appears promising.