A prolonged strike by video game actors could lead to significant delays in the release of new games, according to a union leader.
Members of SAG-AFTRA, the union representing around 2,500 performers in the video game industry, walked out on July 26th after negotiations with ten major game companies stalled over the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in game development.
The union has staged protests outside Warner Bros., one of the companies involved in the dispute, and maintains that its proposed agreement offers “meaningful protections” for workers.
However, the game companies disagree.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union’s chief negotiator, warned that online games could be among the first to feel the impact of the strike if a resolution is not reached quickly.
The dispute centers on the growing use of AI in the gaming industry, with actors concerned about how their work might be used and compensated for in the future.
