Following a nearly year-long strike, video game voice and motion capture actors have reached a historic agreement placing limits on the use of artificial intelligence to create digital replicas, marking a major step in protecting creators’ rights.
Introduction: The end of a long strike
Hollywood video game voice and motion capture actors signed a new contract with video game studios on Wednesday with a strong focus on artificial intelligence protections, according to a press release from the SAG-AFTRA actors union, bringing an end to a strike that lasted nearly a year. This agreement represents a pivotal moment in the relationship between creative industries and emerging technology, setting an important precedent for how the use of AI can be regulated to protect creators’ rights and livelihoods.
The new Interactive Media Agreement, which goes into effect immediately, was approved by SAG-AFTRA members with 95.04% voting in favor and 4.96% against, ratifying the deal and ending the video game strike that had been pending ratification.
Artificial intelligence at the heart of negotiations
“AI was the centerpiece of our proposal package,” said Sarah Elmaleh, a video game voice actor and member of the negotiating committee. Elmaleh, a voice actor for prominent games such as Final Fantasy XV and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, stated she knew it was vital to establish a foundation for how AI should be used ethically in the gaming industry.
The new protections include requirements for consent and disclosure regarding the use of AI-generated digital replicas, as well as the ability for actors to withhold consent for generating new material during a strike. “This deal makes significant headway in AI safeguards, and progress is the name of the game,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in the union’s statement.
What does this mean practically?
Under the new contract, game studios cannot use an actor’s voice or likeness to create a digital replica (or “digital twin”) without their explicit consent. Actors must be clearly informed how this digital replica will be used. Crucially, the agreement grants actors the ability to decline the use of their digital replicas to generate entirely new performances, protecting them from being replaced by their virtual counterparts in future projects.
Other gains: Safety and wages
The agreement went beyond artificial intelligence alone. The new contract also introduces enhanced safety measures for actors, which was a particular concern for video game motion capture performers. Elmaleh noted, “There are people who not only lend their voices to these characters, but their bodies as well, and they are putting their bodies on the line for these characters.” Motion capture actors will now have medics available during high-risk jobs.
The deal also provides compounded wage increases for actors of 15.17% upon ratification, alongside additional raises of 3% in November 2025, November 2026, and November 2027.
A broader call for legislation
The strike sparked a larger call to action across Hollywood, with industry insiders calling for legislation to protect them from the risks of artificial intelligence. The NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress that would make it illegal to generate an unauthorized AI replica of a person’s likeness and voice, has gained support from SAG-AFTRA, the Motion Picture Association, the Recording Academy, and Disney. This demonstrates that the battle fought by video game actors is part of a much broader movement to establish ethical rules of engagement with artificial intelligence.
Conclusion: An important precedent for the future
This agreement represents a vital victory not only for actors, but for all creators who fear being replaced by technology. It proves that through organization and collective bargaining, it is possible to establish guardrails ensuring artificial intelligence is used as a tool to enhance human creativity rather than replace it. This contract will be closely watched by other unions and industries worldwide as a potential model for managing artificial intelligence challenges.
