Game On: SAG‑AFTRA Strike Ends with Strong AI Safeguards for Performers

After nearly a year of negotiations and industry tension, the SAG‑AFTRA strike targeting the video game industry has officially ended, ushering in a new contract that places human dignity and creativity front and center in an age of artificial intelligence.

At the core of the dispute was the rise of AI-generated voice and motion-capture performances, with union members demanding protections against studios replicating their likenesses without consent. The newly ratified agreement, announced in July, requires game companies to obtain explicit, informed consent from performers before using AI tools to clone or manipulate their voice, image, or movement, in a groundbreaking move that echoes recent gains seen in Hollywood's film and TV sectors.

According to Variety and IGN (formerly Imagine Games Network), the deal also includes a 15.17% immediate wage bump, plus scheduled pay increases through 2026. For performers whose work is critical in bringing emotional depth and realism to modern gaming narratives, this is more than a raise, but a long-overdue recognition of their contributions to an industry projected to surpass $300 billion in value globally.

SAG‑AFTRA President Fran Drescher emphasized that the agreement sets a “foundation of respect” for talent working at the intersection of entertainment and emerging tech. Game developers from companies like EA and Activision, who were party to the agreement, have yet to comment in depth. Still, insiders note that this deal could act as a blueprint for future labor contracts in digital entertainment.

The strike’s resolution isn’t just a victory for union members, it’s a reminder that even as AI reshapes creative industries, human performers remain irreplaceable. With this contract, voice and motion-capture actors have reclaimed agency over their digital identities, an essential right in gaming’s rapidly evolving landscape.