SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative agreement with a bargaining group including some of the industry’s largest studios and publishers.

The agreement for its Interactive Media Contract is now “subject to review and approval by the national board and ratification by the membership council”.

Specific details of the terms will be released once these actions have taken place.

The terms of a strike suspension agreement is also expected to be finalised with employers. SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike until an agreement has been reached.

The bargaining group with whom SAG-AFTRA has been negotiating with includes representatives from Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games.

“Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike,” said SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

“Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defends performers’ livelihoods in the AI range, alongside other important gains.

“Thank you, Interactive Media Agreement negotiating chair Sarah Elmaleh and chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez for your hard work and advocacy in pursuit of this contract.”

“Their incredible courage and persistence […] has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before”

Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA president

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher added: “Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world’s most lucrative industries.

“Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before.”

Drescher concluded: “As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game.”

Back in September 2023, 98% of union members voted to authorise a strike to protect video game actors and performers against generative AI and to ensure job security.

The strike officially began last July following a year and a half of negotiations about the Interactive Media Agreement without reaching a deal.

SAG-AFTRA issued an update about its strike earlier this year, noting that it remained “frustratingly apart” from the bargaining group.

Though it did note it found “great success with other employers”, highlighting that 160 upcoming games had signed up to its interim and independent agreements.

“Those agreements contain the protections we have been asking the bargaining group for – terms that are clearly feasible and acceptable to a great number of game companies of all sizes, even as the bargaining companies resist,” the union said.

SAG-AFTRA recently published counterproposals during its ongoing negotiations regarding performer rights and AI.

This included a “revised approach to the secondary performance payment (SSP) and questioning the video game employers’ parameters of when it would be acceptable to seek a ‘vocal digital replica […] in lieu of a performer’.”