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New contract includes AI consent and disclosure

requirements

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Motion capture actors gain safety measures and medics for

high-risk jobs

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Performers receive 15.17% pay increase, with additional

raises

through 2027

By Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES, July 9 (Reuters) - Hollywood video game

voice and motion capture actors signed a new contract with video

game studios on Wednesday with a focus on artificial

intelligence protections, the actors' union, SAG-AFTRA, said in

a press release, ending a near year-long strike.

"AI was the centerpiece of our proposal package," video game

voice actor and member of the negotiation committee Sarah

Elmaleh told Reuters after the new agreement passed.

Elmaleh, a voice actor for popular titles like "Final

Fantasy XV" and "Call of Duty: Black Ops III," said she knew it

was crucial to ensure there was a baseline for how to ethically

use AI in the gaming industry.

The new protections include consent and disclosure

requirements for AI digital replica use and the ability for

performers to suspend consent for the generation of new material

during a strike.

"This deal achieves important progress around AI

protections, and progress is the name of the game," SAG-AFTRA

President Fran Drescher said in the guild's statement.

The deal applies to video game studios Activision

Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic

Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama

Productions, Take 2 Productions and WB Games.

The new Interactive Media Agreement, which goes into effect

immediately, was approved by SAG-AFTRA members by a vote of

95.04% to 4.96%, ratifying the deal and ending the video game

strike, which had been suspended pending ratification.

The new contract also offers more performer safety measures,

which was a specific concern for motion capture video game

performers.

"There are folks who not only give their voices to these

characters, but their bodies, and they put their bodies on the

line for these characters," Elmaleh said.

Motion capture actors will have medics available during

high-risk jobs.

The deal also provides compounded increases in performer pay

at a rate of 15.17% upon ratification plus additional 3%

increases in November 2025, November 2026 and November 2027.

The work stoppage of video game voice actors and

motion-capture performers started following failed contract

negotiations focused around AI-related protections for workers,

bringing about another work stoppage in Hollywood following the

dual writers' and actors' strikes in 2023.

The strike brought a larger call to action across Hollywood

as people in the industry advocate for a law that can protect

them from AI risks.

The NO FAKES Act, a bipartisan bill in Congress which would

make it illegal to make an AI replica of someone's likeness and

voice without their permission, has gained support from the

SAG-AFTRA performers union, the Motion Picture Association, The

Recording Academy and Disney ( DIS ).