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SDCC 2025: SAG-AFTRA to Host “Video Game Actors Unmasked” Panel on Friday, July 25

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SAG-AFTRA will present “Video Game Actors Unmasked” at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 25, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT in Room 6BCF. This panel brings together a group of accomplished voice and performance capture artists to share insights into their work on some of the most iconic titles in gaming. 

Panelists Sarah Elmaleh (Helldivers 2, Hi-Fi Rush), Zeke Alton (Call of Duty, Calisto Protocol), Seth Allyn Austin (Spiderman series, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order),  and Keythe Farley (Mass Effect II, Fallout 4) will discuss the craft and business of game acting, from training and breaking into the industry, to what drives their passion for the work, and how they’re advocating for protections against unregulated uses of artificial intelligence in their field. The panel will also feature a live audience Q&A.

Event Details: 

What: SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Unmasked panel and Q&A
Who: Sarah Elmaleh, Zeke Alton, Seth Allyn Austin, Keythe Farley
Where: San Diego Convention Center – Room 6BCF
When: Friday, July 25, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. PST to 12:30 p.m. PST

SAG-AFTRA Members Approve the 2025 Video Game Agreement

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In national voting completed today, SAG-AFTRA members approved the 2025 SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement by a vote of 95.04% to 4.96%, ratifying the deal and concluding the video game strike, which had already been suspended pending ratification.

The agreement provides compounded increases in performer compensation at a rate of 15.17% upon ratification plus additional 3% increases in November 2025, November 2026 and November 2027. Additionally, the overtime rate maximum for overscale performers will now be based on double scale. The health & retirement contribution rates to the AFTRA Retirement Fund will now be raised from 16.5% to 17% and then to 17.5% in October 2026.

The new contract also accomplishes performer safety guardrails and gains around A.I., including consent and disclosure requirements for A.I. digital replica use and the ability for performers to suspend consent for the generation of new material during a strike.

Votes were submitted online and by mail-in ballot, with the deadline of today, July 9, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT. The final vote was certified by Integrity Voting Systems, an impartial election service based in Everett, Washington.

The SAG-AFTRA National Board Approves the Interactive Media Agreement. Goes to Member Vote

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The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) National Board approved the tentative agreement with the video game bargaining group on terms for the Interactive Media Agreement. The contract will now be submitted to the membership for ratification.

If ratified, the agreement would provide compounded increases in performer compensation at a rate of 15.17% upon ratification plus additional 3% increases in Nov. 2025, Nov. 2026 and Nov. 2027. Additionally, the overtime rate maximum for overscale performers will now be based on double scale. The health and retirement contribution rates to the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan will be raised from 16.5% to 17% upon ratification and to 17.5% in Oct. 2026. 

The new contract accomplishes important guardrails and gains around A.I., including the requirement of informed consent across various A.I. uses and the ability for performers to suspend informed consent for Digital Replica use during a strike. Compensation gains include the establishment of collectively-bargained minimums for the use of Digital Replicas created with IMA-covered performances and higher minimums (7.5x scale) for “Real Time Generation,” i.e., embedding a Digital Replica-voiced chatbot in a video game. “Secondary Performance Payments” will also ensure compensation when visual performances are re-used in another video game. 

Essential new safety provisions were also secured, including a requirement for a qualified medical professional to be present or readily available at rehearsals and performances during which hazardous actions or working conditions are planned. Rest periods are now provided for on-camera principal performers and employers can no longer request that performers complete stunts or other dangerous activity in virtual auditions. 

The full terms of the three-year deal will be released with the ratification materials on Wednesday, June 18. 

A tentative agreement was reached with the video game employers on June 9 and the strike was officially suspended on June 11.

Member informational meetings are being scheduled and additional details will be available at sagaftra.org/videogames2025 in the coming days. 

Eligible SAG-AFTRA members will have until 5 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 to cast their vote on ratification. 

The SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike has been Suspended

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Pursuant to the authority previously delegated by the National Board, with the advice and consent of the Interactive Media Agreement (IMA) Negotiating Committee, National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland officially suspends the SAG-AFTRA strike against the companies signatory to the Interactive Media Agreement. The strike officially was suspended at noon PT, Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

SAG-AFTRA members have been instructed to return to work on productions under the IMA, including work promoting or publicizing projects produced under the IMA.

The SAG-AFTRA National Board is meeting in special session on June 12, 2025 to consider the tentative agreement. If approved, it will be sent out for ratification by the union’s membership in accordance with established policy. Details of the agreement will be released at that time.

SAG-AFTRA and Video Game Employers Reach a Tentative Agreement on Interactive Media Contract. National Board to Review

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Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the signatory video game companies, which include Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Epic Games Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Take 2 Productions Inc., and WB Games Inc. have reached a tentative agreement on terms for the Interactive Media Contract, subject to review and approval by the National Board and ratification by the membership in the coming weeks. Specific details of the agreement will be released with the ratification materials.

It is expected the terms of a strike suspension agreement will be finalized with employers soon. Until such agreement is reached, however, SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike against these employers.

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said:

Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike. Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary A.I. guardrails that defend performers’ livelihoods in the A.I. age, alongside other important gains. Thank you, Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Chair Sarah Elmaleh and Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez for your hard work and advocacy in pursuit of this contract.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stated:

Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world’s most lucrative industries. Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before. As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game.

SAG-AFTRA members have been on strike against video game employers since July 26, 2024. Prior to that, SAG-AFTRA members approved a video game strike authorization in September 2023 with a 98.32% yes vote.

SAG-AFTRA files an Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Llama Productions over Darth Vader AI in Fortnite

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The use of AI in entertainment has been a hot topic in recent years with a lot of negotiations and strikes regarding the topic. At the heart is the want of producers of content to be able to use AI to replicate actors, using their likeness and voice. The actors obviously want to be fairly compensated for that or it not to be used at all as the rise of this “creation” would diminish opportunities and endanger their livelihood.

Fortnite is currently doing a Star Wars crossover and that includes the replacement of human performers with AI technology which has caused SAG-AFTRA to not only speak out but take action.

SAG-AFTRA has released a statement as well as filed an “unfair labor practice charge” against Llama Productions to the NLRB. You can see a copy of that filing below.

We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies to allow new generations to share in the enjoyment of those legacies and renowned roles. However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader’s iconic rhythm and tone in video games.

Fortnite’s signatory company, Llama Productions, chose to replace the work of human performers with A.I. technology. Unfortunately, they did so without providing any notice of their intent to do this and without bargaining with us over appropriate terms. As such, we have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB against Llama Productions.

In that filing SAG-AFTRA charges:

Within the past six months, the Employer, by its agents and representatives, failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite.

SAG-AFTRA has negotiating an Interactive Media Agreement with video game producers with a strike that began in July and remains in effect.

SAG-AFTRA went on strike against some of the largest game companies in July, after more than 18 months of negotiation during which employers refused to agree to A.I. terms that would protect all SAG-AFTRA members who work on video games. Meanwhile, more than 100 video games have been signed to the union’s Interim Agreement and Tiered Budget Independent Agreement, which contain the protections SAG-AFTRA was seeking, showing that the union’s terms are reasonable and feasible for business.

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SAG-AFTRA and Nickelodeon Reach a Tentative Agreement

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Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Nickelodeon have reached a tentative agreement on terms for their 2025 SAG-AFTRA/Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Inc. Basic Cable Television Animation Agreement (“Nickelodeon Animation Agreement”).

The Nickelodeon Animation Agreement is the contract covering animated programs for Nickelodeon basic cable and Paramount+ (The Loud House, Patrick Star Show, Kamp Koral, Rock Paper Scissors, Rugrats, Dora the Explorer, etc.). 

Among the highlights of the contract are: 

  • Pay increases worth over $3.25 million dollars in instant gains for members.
  • Retained higher Legacy rates.
  • Increased rates for Interstitials.
  • Increased promo tag rate to $93 per tag.
  • Special allocation of Health and Retirement contributions increase 75% to Health, 25% to Retirement.
  • New 25% premium for multitracking/sweetening.
  • Incorporate the updated Television Animation Agreement Made For New Media Sideletter, which includes 2023 SVOD budgets for animation, SVOD residuals improvements, a Success Bonus, new AVOD terms.
  • Increased clip use payments. 
  • Payment due date moved up to 5 business days.
  • Substantial artificial intelligence protections and gains for voice actors from the Television Animation Agreement, that will automatically conform to any updated provisions secured in upcoming negotiations on that contract. These A.I. protections include:
    • Specific language acknowledging that the term “voice actors” includes only humans and that acknowledges the importance of human voice acting.
    • Removal of the requirement that a digital replica must exclusively sound like the recognizable natural voice of an actor in order to be protected. 
    • Language specifying that “employment-based digital replicas” need only be recognized and identifiable via contracts and other regular business documents, confirming that it was in fact the performer’s voice used to make the replica.  
    • Language specifying that “independently created digital replicas” need only sound like the “character voice” from which the replica was created. 
    • Confirmation that if the voice actor’s performance is digitally altered into a foreign language, the voice actor shall be eligible for residuals based on the distribution of the foreign language version.
    • Language clarifying that when prompting a generative artificial intelligence system with a performer name or names, consent of those performers is required. The contract has removed the requirement, which exists in live action, that a “major facial feature” be included in the prompt with no substitute for that criterion.
    • The establishment of regular, mandatory artificial intelligence meetings with producers, which will include discussion of methods and systems to track the use of digital replicas.

The 2025 SAG-AFTRA/Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Inc. Basic Cable Television Animation Agreement is a three-year contract that will be considered for ratification by SAG-AFTRA’s National Board. 

SAG-AFTRA Announces New Video Game Agreements for Students and Game Jams

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SAG-AFTRA has announced the creation of the Student Interactive Waiver Agreement and the Game Jam Waiver Agreement, both of which provide video game developers at every stage of their careers the opportunity to work with union performers, even as the video game strike continues. The agreements help support developers at all levels who want to work with union talent and want to learn more about producing video games under a union contract.

Designed for students currently taking video game courses at an accredited educational institution, the Student Interactive Waiver Agreement provides an opportunity for students to work with SAG-AFTRA performers to satisfy course requirements during game development. The project must be recorded entirely in the United States and must be owned by the student, acting as the producer or signatory, and also meet certain other requirements. To get started on registering your project, please click the link below.

The Game Jam Waiver Agreement is designed for developers creating video games at “game jam” events, where designers and programmers work together as a team to create themed video games from the ground up. The project may not include material recorded prior to the commencement of the event. Under this agreement, participants are able to work with SAG-AFTRA performers and session fees and secondary payments are deferred provided that the project does not generate revenue. In the event that a project generates revenue, SAG-AFTRA will work with participants to sign the project to the appropriate agreement.

These two new agreements join the Tiered-Budget, Interim and Interactive Localization agreements as contracts that can be safely worked during the strike. To date, more than 180 games have been signed to the union’s interim and tiered-budget video game agreements.

SAG-AFTRA Introduces a New Independent Agreement for Video Game Localization

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SAG-AFTRA has announced its introduction of the Independent Interactive Localization Agreement. This agreement, which contains the same streamlined, easy to understand baseline terms as the union’s Tiered Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, covers localization of video game projects produced in a language other than English. In addition to A.I. protections, the new agreement includes expanded session and voiceprint options for both principal and atmospheric roles as compared to the original Localization Agreement. All contract language was based on direct feedback from the community that does this work.

With over 130 video game projects currently signed to the union’s interim and independent agreements, SAG-AFTRA hopes this new Independent Interactive Localization Agreement will benefit companies who are willing to agree to the union’s terms by allowing them to hire SAG-AFTRA talent. The agreement will also provide employment opportunities to performers who work in video game localization — a process in which an actor replaces the dialogue from a foreign language to English.

The full text of the agreement, a rate sheet, and a Producers Guide are available for review in SAG-AFTRA’s digital Production Center.

The SAG-AFTRA strike against all signatories to the Interactive Media Agreement remains in effect, with the exception of games signed to the Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, the Interim Interactive Media Agreement and now the Independent Interactive Localization Agreement. 

SAG-AFTRA and Ethovox sign an agreement that empowers actors and secures A.I. guardrails

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SAG-AFTRA and Ethovox have announced a new agreement that ensures performers are protected and empowered in the A.I. age. 

Co-founded by BAFTA Games Award-winner Cissy Jones, Ethovox is building a fully-authenticated foundational A.I. model for voice. In addition to ensuring performers can participate in Ethovox’s consensual foundational model knowing that they will be protected and compensated fairly, the voice model will reflect a commitment to diversity and inclusion. Further, the SAG-AFTRA-Ethovox contract leads the field in performer compensation as it provides both session fees and ongoing revenue sharing for the life of the foundational model.

A foundational voice model provides the basis for digital replicas. It requires volumes of underlying voice data to enable the replicas to function properly. The Ethovox model will not be user-facing, and the voices included in the model will not be identifiable in any of the speech generated. 

The Ethovox Agreement was approved by the union’s Corporate/Educational & Non-Broadcast Committee and was additionally presented to and approved by SAG-AFTRA’s National Executive Committee.

Those who would like to learn more can visit www.sagaftra.org/ethovox.

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