Video game actors strike over AI use, but GTA 6 reportedly ‘exempt’
Video game workers affiliated with the SAG-AFTRA union have been on strike since July 26 over the use of artificial intelligence in the industry. The actors and major video game companies have been unable to reach an agreement on protections surrounding the use of AI in game development. Following the strike, several video games currently in development are at risk of delays. Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto 6 was previously thought to be one of the games that could be affected by the video game actors’ strike. However, a new report has confirmed that the highly anticipated game will not be affected by the SAG-AFTRA action.
GTA 6 ‘exempt’ from strike
According to KotakuGTA 6 is one of several titles in development that have been exempted from the strike, allowing actors to continue working on the project. The report received confirmation from a spokesperson for the video game publishers involved in negotiations with SAG-AFTRA workers. Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two is among the publishers affected by the strike.
“I can confirm that GTA VI is exempt,” the spokesperson told Kotaku. The spokesperson also confirmed that any game already in development before September 2023 would be exempt from the SAG-AFTRA strike.
GTA 6 is set for release sometime in 2025, but developer Rockstar Games has yet to confirm a release date.
AI use in video game development
SAG-AFTRA members who work as actors in video games went on strike against all video game companies that signed the Interactive Media Agreement on July 26. The labor action was launched after more than a year and a half of negotiations between the two parties failed to produce a deal. According to SAG-AFTRA, video game companies have refused to “clearly affirm, in plain and enforceable language, that they will protect all artists covered by this agreement in their AI language.”
The video game companies involved in the negotiations and now affected by the strike include Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Llama Productions, Take 2 Productions, VoiceWorks Productions, and WB Games.
The video game industry has seen the increasing use of AI tools in video game development. A report last week claimed that generative AI use had led to several job losses in the industry. Call of Duty maker Activision has also reportedly made AI-generated in-game cosmetics available for purchase on its online store.
