US actors overwhelmingly support potential video games strike

Members of the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra) union have voted resoundingly in favor of a potential strike in the video game industry, raising concerns about another major strike in Hollywood.

With an impressive 98% approval rate, the vote reflects dissatisfaction with the current gaming industry agreement covering voice acting, motion capture, and stunt work. Actors in video games share similar concerns with their counterparts in the film and TV industry, who have been on strike primarily due to pay and artificial intelligence issues.

While the vote doesn't guarantee an immediate strike, it empowers Sag-Aftra to call one if negotiations, resuming on Tuesday, fail to deliver a satisfactory resolution. Sag-Aftra President Fran Drescher emphasized the urgency, urging video game companies to "get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract" to secure viable careers in video game performance.

The agreement between Sag-Aftra and industry giants like Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, and Disney Character Voices expired in November, leading to monthly extensions. The companies' spokesperson reiterated their commitment to good-faith negotiations, expressing optimism about finding a resolution.

In recent years, the video game industry has witnessed a growing trend of A-list actors and celebrities, such as Kit Harington, Rami Malek, and Conan O'Brien, participating in video games. Idris Elba, featured in the latest Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, highlighted the increasing significance of video games as a medium for actors.