Video game strike: 'Some popular games could be impacted' | BBC News

Popular online games could be first to be hit by the video game acting strike if the dispute is not resolved quickly, according to a union boss.

Performers in the industry walked out on 26 July after a failure to reach an agreement over the use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in development.

Members of union SAG-Aftra, which represents about 2,500 performers, recently staged a picket outside the offices of Warner Bros, one of 10 game companies negotiating with the union.

They say their offer gives workers "meaningful protections" but SAG-Aftra disagrees.

BBC Newsbeat spoke to Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's chief negotiator, to find out what it could mean for gamers.

#VideoGameStrike #Gaming #SAGAftra #BBCNews

[stevenrodriguez]

Sell complete games no more online micro transactions

[moribnd]

I support the creators and NOT the traded companies that keep making garbage games. The industry is awful right now.

[yyhkodu]

Video games have become too concerned with graphics and NPC actors. The overall gameplay has suffered and the sales numbers show this.

[decoyfox]

this'll make things worse - AI doesn't go on strike

[kayskreed]

Companies wish to copy actors' voice and likeness because that way they can use the assets in whatever they want without paying, since the actors won't get paid and AIs aren't people and don't have rights so they won't get paid either. In a nutshell it's all about companies' greed.

[gabrielmenchaca]

A video game strike against AI before GTA VI

[bedengus]

Any artist can draw you in any situation they want, even on rule34, and you cannot (that is, literally unfeaseable) to hinder them from doing so; AI just does it faster - some meaningless measure as 'stopping it from being used commercially', as on games, would just be adding some random noise so that the character is slightly different and you can no longer claim that is you.

I have never seen so much bullshit as all this aiphobia all the day from artists to just random people getting triggered that what he does in public can actually be seem by others.
Crazy shit.

[psylentrage]

Working games on PHYSICAL MEDIA with LAN

[gerrardanderson]

This will open up a market for games made by humans and no matter how good AI gets it will always be non human and have something cold about it especially in art

[nanfoodles]

Just a question. What about all these actors doing voice overs mimicking famous peoples voices? Does this go the other way? Funny elevator operators went on strike a few times to get raises and job security. That didnt go well for them, they shut down all elevators and installed new ones in NY that didnt need operators. Cities around the world followed suit. You can try but industries keep moving forward. Tractors put whole towns out of business. Do we scrap tractors now?

[ricka]

Turning comments off is a no, no. Let the people speak and be heard. You’re contributing to silencing them.

[entretantosmundosgaming]

It is such a shame that these strikes aren’t mirrored by the translation professionals. Many of us have lost our livelihood to AI even though the final product completely and egregiously lacks quality. Our works are also being used without our consent. We can thank the streaming companies for this, Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Disney, Hulu, etc. Screenwriters, actors and video game developers strike, but the translators don’t. Why is that? Is it because we don’t have contracts and are outsourced by American companies working in India and China? I sincerely don’t know.

[Kayo-mpwk]

They tend to say your face or voice is used, but if that was the thing, the individual used can just sue the company, because if YOU are used there, the violation is as evident as when your works are plagiarised by someone. If they can't do that, it says your rights aren't even violated there and you are just being replaced by AI, trying to find excuses to blame them. AI is rather designed to mix materials up and make new faces or voices which no more belongs to anyone all over the world.

[stevensmith]

It’s important we place regulations and restrictions on A.I now. Imagine doing one project and then seeing your work copied by A.I while you remain unemployed.

[paulrr]

Have to support these guys simply because AI will be f#$king up all our jobs soon. At least we had a good run. Hopefully all that farming and fishing in video games will be a skill I can use in the real world.😢

[AshesOfTheKing]

Imagine even if the VO actors are paid for the AI performance, what about everyone in between during scheduling and recording? All the PA’s and all of the studio staff participating in these recordings

[frhyuhy]

With all the losses in the video game industry, this may not be the best time for a strike. Also, unlike movies, this is a video game. You don't copy an actors face when you draw a dragon. I don't buy a game because of a particular voice actor. It is easy for AI to generate unique voices for all of the characters in a game and not copy a single actor.

[MrBorington]

Not affecting Japanese game companies like Fromsoftware and ATLUS…

[babalonkie]

If it's games from Ubisoft, Rockstar or EA... the world is totally fine with a indefinite delay.

[jndominica]

So there wouldn't be new games for a while. Big deal? I've not played every recent game that already exists. If creative people want to compete with the AI, they have to up the game and prove that they have unique talents that an AI cannot match. Maybe I'm too old, but video games didn't usually have an actor's complete face. They might have drawn an inspiration and partially modelled the face after someone, and usually to a result that is far too perfect if the character is a female.