New Agreement for Voice and Motion Capture Actors in Gaming
Voice and motion capture performers in the gaming industry have reached a significant agreement with game studios aimed at safeguarding their rights in the age of artificial intelligence. According to Reuters, this deal, brokered through the SAG-AFTRA union, is set to improve working conditions for actors.
Sara Elmaleh, a voice actress known for her work on titles like Final Fantasy XV and Call of Duty: Black Ops III, highlighted that ethical concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence were central to the negotiations. The actors aimed to establish fundamental principles for the use of technology in gaming.
Under the new agreement, studios are required to obtain consent from actors before using AI to emulate their voices, and they must inform them about such practices. Additionally, actors have the right to withdraw their consent during potential strikes.
The agreement was signed by major companies including Activision Productions, Electronic Arts Productions, and Disney Character Voices.
Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the studios, expressed satisfaction regarding the ratification of the new deal, which includes significant wage increases and improved working conditions for performers.
A remarkable 95.04% of SAG-AFTRA members supported this agreement, which also involves enhanced safety measures for actors who risk their health during performances. Medical personnel will now always be available during high-risk work.
Moreover, the agreement outlines a pay increase of 15.17%, followed by additional raises of 3% in the coming years.
