Voice and motion capture actors in Hollywood reached a new agreement with video game studios on Wednesday, emphasizing protections against artificial intelligence, according to a press release from the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA. This move marks the conclusion of a nearly year-long strike.
“AI was central to our proposal package,” stated Sarah Elmaleh, a video game voice actor and member of the negotiation committee, in an interview with Reuters after the agreement was finalized.
Elmaleh, who has lent her voice to notable games such as Final Fantasy XV and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, underscored the importance of establishing ethical guidelines for AI usage in the gaming sector.
The newly established protections require consent and disclosure for the use of AI digital replicas, alongside a provision allowing performers to retract consent for new material creation during a strike.
“This deal represents significant advancement in AI protections, and progress truly defines this agreement,” remarked SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher in the union’s official statement.
The agreement encompasses major video game studios, including Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games.
Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game studios involved, expressed satisfaction about the ratification of the new Interactive Media Agreement, which introduces substantial wage increases, leading AI protections, and improved health and safety measures for performers.
Effective immediately, the new contract was ratified by SAG-AFTRA members with a vote tally of 95.04 percent in favor, effectively ending the work stoppage that had been put on hold pending this approval.
Additionally, the agreement enhances safety protocols for performers, particularly motion capture artists.
“These individuals not only voice the characters, but also embody them physically, risking their safety in the process,” Elmaleh noted.
The contract now ensures that medics will be present during high-risk motion capture sessions.
Moreover, the deal stipulates significant pay increases for performers, commencing with a compounded raise of 15.17 percent upon ratification, followed by additional increments of 3 percent in November 2025, 2026, and 2027.
The strike by video game voice actors and motion capture performers originated after unsuccessful negotiations regarding AI-related workers’ protections, contributing to ongoing labor disputes in Hollywood that followed the simultaneous strikes of writers and actors earlier this year.
This labor movement has sparked a broader discussion across Hollywood, with industry advocates pushing for legislation aimed at safeguarding against AI threats.
The bipartisan NO FAKES Act currently in Congress seeks to prohibit the creation of AI representations of individuals’ likenesses and voices without their consent. This initiative has garnered backing from SAG-AFTRA, the Motion Picture Association, The Recording Academy, and Disney.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
