Striking Video Game Performers Get Good News About AI Protections
By Movieguide® Contributor
Major video game studio Lightspeed L.A. has been approved by SAG-AFTRA to continue working on its next release after agreeing to interim terms regarding AI regulations.
“I am delighted to be partnering with Lightspeed L.A.,” said SAG-AFTRA Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “Their upcoming game may be set in a world of technology run amok, but by agreeing to equitable terms, they’re working to make sure that the real future will not be a dystopian one for performers. My gratitude to Steve [Martin], the entire crew at Lightspeed L.A., and the SAG-AFTRA members working on this project, all of whom made this collaboration possible.”
SAG-AFTRA-represented video game performers went on strike six weeks ago to negotiate more favorable terms when it comes to AI protections. The union had been in talks with major video game studios since October 2022 and had yet to find terms that were agreeable to both sides.
Motion capture performers are particularly fearful of being replaced by the emerging technology, and their job security has been a major sticking point in these negotiations. Lightspeed L.A., however, has broken rank from other major studios and signed an interim deal that will be in place until a contract for the whole industry has been agreed upon. The studio supports the strike and SAG-AFTRA’s efforts to secure strong AI protections.
“Lightspeed L.A. has always recognized and valued the irreplicable role of talent, which injects creativity, innovation, and the human touch into video games,” said Steve Martin, General Manager of Lightspeed L.A. “Supporting our cast is the right thing to do and there was never any hesitation to consider the performer protections that anchor this agreement. We want to thank Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and everyone at SAG-AFTRA for their openness and collaboration to help deliver this agreement.”
“This strike has always been as much about the start of work with proper A.I. protections as it is stopping work without them. Lightspeed L.A. understands how crucial these protections are to the actors, and followed through with an outstanding commitment not only to this cast, but their future casts,” added Sarah Elmaleh, chair of the negotiating committee for SAG-AFTRA’s Interactive Media Agreement. “They made their genuine appreciation of performers as contributors concrete and impactful. I am thrilled about this partnership and cannot wait to see what this talented team of developers and performers makes together.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
Now three weeks into their strike, video game performers explained why they believe they need to fight for stronger protection from AI than has yet been seen.
Video game performers began striking on July 26, providing negotiators with the leverage they needed to nail down final changes in language about AI protection. Though this step negatively impacts the industry, SAG-AFTRA felt it had no choice after negotiations that had begun in October of 2022 came to a standstill.
As is the case with every other negotiation that has taken place in recent years, the sticking point for these talks comes from disagreements over the use of AI. SAG-AFTRA negotiators are pushing for the broadest protections yet, while the major studios feel they have given everything they can.
“Under our AI proposal, if we want to use a digital replica of an actor to generate a new performance of them in a game, we have to seek consent and pay them fairly for its use,” said Audrey Cooling, a representative for the major studios. “These are robust protections, which are entirely consistent with or better than other entertainment industry agreements the union has signed.”
