Video Game Performers Secure AI Consent Rules in New SAG-AFTRA Deal

Video game performers have ratified a landmark deal with nine major studios, ending an 11-month strike centered on AI rights and labor protections. The agreement mandates explicit consent for using AI to replicate actors' voices, faces, or movements—a first for the gaming industry. Studios are now prohibited from employing such technology during strikes.

The contract delivers immediate financial gains: a 15.17% pay increase, revised overtime terms, and enhanced retirement contributions. Three subsequent annual raises of 3% are locked in. SAG-AFTRA members approved the terms with overwhelming 95.04% support, extending Hollywood-style labor standards to interactive media.

This settlement establishes critical guardrails against generative AI's unregulated use in performance capture. It grants actors veto power over digital replicas and suspends AI-generated content production during labor disputes—setting a precedent for creative industries navigating technological disruption.