Approximately 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members have been on strike against video game companies regarding protections from the use of AI technology since July 2024.. Last month, SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor practice charge for the use of an AI voice of late actor James Earl Jones with Darth Vader. Now, it looks like the strike is coming to an end. SAG-AFTRA has announced that they have reached a tentative agreement with video game companies. Nothing is official yet however. The agreement still needs to be officially approved by the National Board which is expected to occur soon.

We have reached a tentative agreement with the video game bargaining group, which includes some of the largest video game companies in the world, and we are hopeful that our video game strike will be suspended in the coming days. #SagAftraStrong https://t.co/r4U9UluuNS pic.twitter.com/jyR8JNWMp0

— SAG-AFTRA NEWS (@sagaftranews) June 10, 2025

SAG-AFTRA released a statement saying:

“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.”

“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, “SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said.

“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 noted that while an agreement will be finalized soon, members will continue to remain on strike until such agreement is reached.

Update June 11

The next day, at 12 pm PT, SAG-AFTRA announced that the strike has been suspended.

SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike suspended at noon PT today. All SAG-AFTRA members are instructed to return to work on productions under the IMA, including work promoting or publicizing projects produced under the IMA. READ MORE: https://t.co/wfvuFOSXy6 pic.twitter.com/ytZDvLZ8wG

— SAG-AFTRA NEWS (@sagaftranews) June 11, 2025

In a official press release, SAG-AFTRA said:

“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 strike against the companies signatory to the Interactive Media Agreement, effective at noon PT today, Wednesday, June 11, 2025.”

“All SAG-AFTRA members are 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 will meet in special session tomorrow, 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 says that the agreement will 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. 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 October 2026.

Update June 12

The new guardrails and gains regarding the use of A.I. includes 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 includes 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.

There were also new safety provisions that got 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.