SAG-AFTRA Ends Video Game Strike After Nearly a Year

It's official — the video game voice actor and performer strike has come to an end.

SAG-AFTRA has confirmed a "tentative agreement" on the interactive media contract, marking a pivotal step toward concluding nearly a year of industrial action across the gaming industry. As of noon PT on June 11, the union has formally suspended strike activities. This development follows days of intense negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and major game studios, including Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games.

The strike, which began in July 2024, was launched in response to unresolved disputes over AI-related provisions in performer contracts. With over 98% of voting members supporting the action, the strike significantly impacted game development and player experiences alike. While the agreement has not yet been fully ratified — a special union meeting is scheduled for June 12 to review the terms — the deal will soon be submitted to SAG-AFTRA’s membership for final approval.

The video game performers strike is over. Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images.

With the suspension of the strike, performers can now return to recording sessions, and developers can resume full production on affected titles. For players, this means fewer disruptions in upcoming content and updates. During the strike, games like Destiny 2 and World of Warcraft featured partially unvoiced NPCs in otherwise fully voiced scenes, likely due to ongoing restrictions. Additionally, League of Legends was placed on strike by SAG-AFTRA after Riot Games allegedly attempted to circumvent the action by canceling a scheduled in-game event. Activision confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 underwent character recasting, prompting player concerns over altered voice performances. Meanwhile, Epic Games now faces an unfair labor practice charge after SAG-AFTRA filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over the use of an AI-generated Darth Vader in Fortnite.

The necessity of the strike was underscored by incidents like one involving Ashly Burch, the voice and performance artist behind Horizon's Aloy. In a now-deleted demonstration, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s software engineering director, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, interacted with an AI-generated version of Aloy using synthetic voice and facial animation. The voice lacked Burch’s distinct tone, instead resembling a mechanical text-to-speech output, while the character’s expressions appeared rigid and unnatural.

Burch emphasized the core issue: “You have to get our consent before you make an AI version of us in any form, you have to compensate us fairly, and you have to tell us how you’re using this AI double.” She continued, “I love this industry and this art form so much, and I want there to be a new generation of actors. I want there to be so many more incredible game performances. I want to be able to continue to do this job. If we don’t win, that future is really compromised.”