After several days of negotiations with various video game companies which began on Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA released a statement revealing that no new agreement has been made. “SAG-AFTRA and video game employers concluded scheduled negotiations for the Interactive Media Agreement. No deal was reached and the current agreement will remain in effect while the parties make final efforts to reach a deal.”

SAG-AFTRA and Video Game Employers Statement on Interactive Media Agreementhttps://t.co/jEQCNFA2oL

— SAG-AFTRA NEWS (@sagaftranews) September 29, 2023

The union was talking to publishers and developers such as Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take-Two, Insomniac, and Warner Bros about a successor to the Interactive Media Agreement which was going to expire last year. It was extended while discussions took place.

Earlier in the week, prior to negotiations,  SAG-AFTRA voted in favor of a strike with 98% of members voting yes. This does not mean that a strike will occur but the lack of a deal would indicate otherwise. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.

In a statement, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland noted the lack of interest those companies had in engaging in the discussion of critical issues.

“After five rounds of bargaining, it has become abundantly clear that the video game companies aren’t willing to meaningfully engage on the critical issues: compensation undercut by inflation, unregulated use of AI and safety,” said Crabtree-Ireland. “I remain hopeful that we will be able to reach an agreement that meets members’ needs, but our members are done being exploited, and if these corporations aren’t willing to offer a fair deal, our next stop will be the picket lines.”

At the time, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said “It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract. The result of this vote shows our membership understands the existential nature of these negotiations, and that the time is now for these companies — which are making billions of dollars and paying their CEOs lavishly — to give our performers an agreement that keeps performing in video games as a viable career.”

The union is asking game companies to agree to the following:

• The same wage increases for video game performers as those in TV and film: 11% retroactive to the deal’s expiration, and 4% in both the second and third years of the agreement. The union argues these are necessary to account for inflation
• Artificial intelligence protections around consent, control, transparency and compensation
• On-camera performers to be given rest periods of five minutes per hour, the same as off-camera performers
• Set medics to be present where any stunts or hazardous work is performed, as is the case with TV and film
• Prohibitions against stunts on performers’ self-taped auditions
• Protections against vocal stress