Hollywood video game artists, who have been on strike since July 26, took to the streets of Los Angeles this Thursday to begin protests against the major game companies. Their demand: robust protections against the encroachment of artificial intelligence in their work.
“The companies know exactly what they must do to end the strike, but the core issue is the AI aspect. We have resolved every contract except for the AI portion”, said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, executive director of SAG-AFTRA and head of the Interactive Media Agreement negotiating committee, in an interview with EFE.
Centers of action formed as hundreds of game actors gathered at picket lines outside Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. The scene echoed headlines from 2023 when Hollywood talent demonstrated for better working conditions and AI protections across major studios and streaming platforms.
Roughly 2,500 voice and motion-capture actors are seeking equitable protections for AI use, arguing that the current approach from studios like WB Games Inc., Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, and Insomniac Games Inc. inadequately covers their contributions.
Protections for Everyone
Crabtree-Ireland explained that the central dispute is the push by game companies to extend AI protections to only a portion of SAG-AFTRA members. He criticized this as insufficient, stating that the union members are standing firm because the issue is existential for their careers and the industry as a whole. “Our members are here because they understand that this is about the future of this trade and this business. They will stay until an agreement is reached”, he emphasized.
Unions argue that the protections should extend beyond on-screen roles to the artists who perform motion capture, the ones who physically bring characters to life through realistic digital movements.
SAG-AFTRA has been negotiating a new contract with game publishers since the prior agreement expired in 2022. While AI stands as a primary demand, members also seek higher wages pegged to inflation and stronger safety rules that ensure adequate rest and guard against risky, high-pressure workloads.
Jobs at Risk of Disappearing
Jasiri Booker, a motion-capture artist who has contributed to titles like Spider-Man, Destiny, and Call of Duty, worries that AI training could gradually render his role obsolete. “I wear the suit, I perform the stunts, I bring the characters to life through movement. It seems the industry is aiming to replace all artists to maximize profits”, he told EFE.
Booker notes that the pandemic accelerated changes in the gaming sector, a shift reflected in industry revenue trends. Data from Statista shows the United States market generating significant billions in 2023 as large studios redirected substantial investments toward creative ventures. Booker argues that these investments are reshaping the industry and risking the livelihoods of the creators who laid its groundwork.
Another motion-capture artist, Seth Allyn Austin, clarifies that the aim is not to halt AI entirely but to advocate for responsible deployment. “We simply ask that it be used responsibly, so it does not push people out of work or harm anyone. We hope audiences recognize the importance of the work behind games and support this cause”, Austin said. He added that fans seek authentic, realistically immersive worlds, and removing the human element could have real consequences.