News Digest

Video game voice actors vote overwhelmingly in favour of going on strike

It could be game over soon. Actors who provide the voices behind some of the world’s favourite video games are threatening to go on strike. More than 96 per cent of the members of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have voted to support the action. They are not about to step away from the mic immediately as they have called for talks to settle the dispute about royalty payments. However, several of the industry’s biggest names, such as Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect) and David Hayter (Metal Gear Solid), showed their support for the motion when the vote opened a few weeks ago.

I voted to authorize a strike because our employers in the games industry refuse to negotiate with us at all about some very, very important issues surrounding our working conditions

Union member Will Weaton

The actors want royalties for games which sell more than 2 million copies. They also want stunt co-ordinators for motion-capture shoots and extra pay for “vocally stressful” recording sessions. For example, the demanding recordings for Call of Duty can go on for hours; the union wants them limited to two hours. "It is important to note that the referendum result does not mean that members are on strike, rather, it gives the national board the authority to declare a strike,“ the union said in a statement. "With this result in hand, the negotiating committee will seek to return to the bargaining table and continue to press for a fair resolution on behalf of performers working in video games.”

You might call them residuals, secondary payments, royalties, pay bumps or whatever suits your fancy. It is simply the idea that, if a video game is wildly successful, actors should share in its financial success.

SAG-AFTRA union