Tag: SAG-AFTRA

The voice actor of Mega Man will not return for the new installment because Capcom does not want to deal with unions

Voice actor Ben Diskin, known for voicing Mega Man in the successful game Mega Man 11, has announced that he will not reprise the character in the upcoming title, Mega Man: Dual Override, scheduled for release in 2027. His decision is based on Capcom’s refusal to employ voice actors under a union contract, which has raised concerns in the voice acting community about the growing use of artificial intelligence in the video game industry. At Capcom, they don’t want to hear anything against unions Diskin expressed his discontent through […]

The voice actor Ben Diskin, known for voicing Mega Man in the successful game Mega Man 11, has announced that he will not reprise the character in the upcoming title, Mega Man: Dual Override, scheduled for release in 2027.

His decision is based on Capcom’s refusal to employ voice actors under a union contract, which has raised concerns in the voice acting community about the growing use of artificial intelligence in the video game industry.

Capcom doesn’t want to know anything about unions

Diskin expressed his discontent through a message on Bluesky, where he confirmed that he had been contacted to participate in the new installment of the game, but only under the condition of working without the protections offered by a union contract.

Although Capcom assured that there would be “AI protections” in his contract, Diskin was skeptical and highlighted the lack of a way to enforce those promises without a formal agreement with the SAG-AFTRA union.

The SAG-AFTRA had recently issued a “Do Not Work” order for Mega Man: Dual Override, indicating that Capcom had not initiated the necessary process to formalize an agreement with the union.

This situation occurs in a broader context, where the rise of artificial intelligence in the creative field has been a focal point in recent union negotiations, seeking to protect voice actors from exploitation and unauthorized use of their work.

Despite his decision, Diskin wished success to the development team of Mega Man: Dual Override, acknowledging the effort involved in creating a video game. In his final statement, he reflected on the importance of having a contract that ensures adequate protections for the industry and its artists, even considering the possibility of accepting a lower budget agreement, which Capcom rejected.

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The creators of the new It series talk about how the writers' and actors' strike has impacted the series

The anticipated series Welcome to Derry premieres on HBO after a prolonged pause in production caused by the Hollywood strikes of 2023. This new project, which serves as a prequel to the successful film adaptation of It, finally arrives on screens after an eight-month interruption, a challenge for its production team and fans eager for its release. Two strikes that completely changed the series Before production was halted due to the strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), […]

The highly anticipated series Welcome to Derry premieres on HBO after a prolonged production pause caused by the Hollywood strikes of 2023. This new project, which serves as a prequel to the successful film adaptation of It, finally arrives on screens after an eight-month interruption, a challenge for its production team and fans eager for its release.

Two strikes that completely changed the series

Before production was halted due to the strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), the creators, led by Barbara Muschietti, had managed to film 90% of three episodes. However, the logistical challenges and downtime meant that the team had to rethink their release and promotion strategy as production was restarted.

Welcome to Derry not only presents a return to the universe of It, but also serves as a testament to the resilience of the film industry in the face of significant challenges. The series focuses on the origins of Pennywise and the horrors that haunt the city of Derry, exploring dark themes that Stephen King fans have become addicted to.

As the series premieres, there is anticipation in the community of fans about how the narrative will intertwine with the events seen in previous films and what new characters and terrors will be introduced. Although the creators have kept many details secret, it is likely that some surprises are reserved for the episodes, given the creative background of the franchise. The audience can expect a return to the terrifying atmosphere of Derry, promising a chilling experience for horror enthusiasts.

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Hideo Kojima presents the first images of his upcoming video game, heavily inspired by Metal Gear Solid

During the live broadcast for the tenth anniversary of Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima presented a new poster for his upcoming PlayStation exclusive game titled Physint. This title will mark a return to the roots of the “tactical espionage action” gameplay style that popularized the iconic Metal Gear Solid series, in contrast to his previous work, Death Stranding. Physint has had to face some notable issues. At the event, Kojima mentioned that the casting process for the main character was affected by the SAG-AFTRA strikes, although he confirmed that the actors Don Lee, known […]

During the live broadcast for the tenth anniversary of Kojima Productions, Hideo Kojima presented a new poster for his upcoming PlayStation exclusive game titled Physint. This title will mark a return to the roots of the “tactical espionage action” gameplay style that popularized the iconic Metal Gear Solid series, in contrast to his previous work, Death Stranding.

Physint has had to face some notable problems

At the event, Kojima mentioned that the casting process for the main character was affected by the SAG-AFTRA strikes, although he confirmed that actors Don Lee, known for his role in Train to Busan, Charlee Fraser, noted for her performance in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and Minami Hamabe, who participated in Godzilla Minus One, will be part of the cast.

Physint will use an advanced version of the Decima engine, a technology that also supported notable works such as Horizon Zero Dawn and Death Stranding. Although an immediate release is not expected, the game is anticipated to arrive within six years, making it an even more distant project than OD, which also does not have a confirmed release date.

Kojima emphasized that Physint will be “both a game and a movie at the same time,” suggesting that the gaming experience could be so cinematic that it might be confused with a film for those who witness it. “I’m not sure how far we can take it yet,” added the Japanese creative.

The broadcast was filled with announcements, including an anime based on Death Stranding and a sake from Kojima Productions, leaving fans excited about the future of the company and its innovative proposals in the world of entertainment.

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SAG-AFTRA will allow striking actors to participate in student projects and jams

SAG-AFTRA ha dado un paso significativo en su lucha por los derechos de los actores de videojuegos al introducir el Acuerdo de Exención para Estudiantes Interactivos y el Acuerdo de Exención para Game Jam. Estos acuerdos permiten a los actores en huelga participar en proyectos estudiantiles, proporcionando oportunidades laborales sin violar la huelga que ha estado en curso durante ocho meses, que comenzó el 26 de marzo. La medida tiene como objetivo apoyar a los desarrolladores de videojuegos en etapas iniciales, asegurando así un flujo constante de talento y creatividad en la industria. SAG-AFTRA está comprometido con la industria. El director ejecutivo nacional de SAG-AFTRA, […]

SAG-AFTRA has taken a significant step in its fight for the rights of video game actors by introducing the Student Interactive Exemption Agreement and the Game Jam Exemption Agreement. These agreements allow striking actors to participate in student projects, providing job opportunities without violating the strike that has been ongoing for eight months, which began on March 26. The measure aims to support early-stage video game developers, thus ensuring a steady flow of talent and creativity in the industry.

SAG-AFTRA is committed to the industry

The national executive director of SAG-AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, highlighted that union members are committed to the industry and want to participate in projects that define the future of video games. However, it is crucial that the projects meet certain requirements to qualify under these exemption agreements.

The reason behind the extension of the strike is related to the demands of the actors, who are calling for protections against the misuse of artificial intelligence and the use of their image without consent. AI has become a central concern, as its misuse could threaten the viability of actors’ careers. Ashly Burch, known for her role in Horizon Zero Dawn, expressed her concern about the potential misuse of technology like AI, emphasizing that it is not the advancement itself that worries her, but the lack of legal protection for actors.

Video game studios have begun to feel the impact of the strike. For example, League of Legends is resorting to recycling old voice lines, while a recent episode of Destiny 2 was released without certain voice lines. This situation highlights the urgent need for an agreement between the actors and the studios to ensure that video game development can progress without compromising the rights of those involved.

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Voice actress from Baldur's Gate 3 warns: the use of AI can ruin your company's reputation

Samantha Beart, who plays Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, has raised her voice against the use of artificial intelligence technologies by certain CEOs in the entertainment industry, who are seeking short-term profits. In an interview with Edge, Beart warned that this approach could cause significant reputational damage in the long run. “Ultimately, it will destroy your reputation, your company, everything,” the actress stated, emphasizing that actors will not give up in their fight against AI, as it would threaten their ability to work in a sector they consider deeply artistic. A short-term perspective […]

Samantha Beart, who plays Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3, has raised her voice against the use of artificial intelligence technologies by certain CEOs in the entertainment industry, who are seeking short-term profits. In an interview with Edge, Beart warned that this approach could cause significant reputational damage in the long run. “Ultimately, it will destroy your reputation, your company, everything,” the actress stated, emphasizing that actors will not give up in their fight against AI, as it threatens their ability to work in a sector they consider deeply artistic.

A short-term perspective on things

Beart also expressed his concern about the current state of the industry, pointing out that there are executives who see video games merely as an opportunity for return on investment, without a true understanding of the medium. “The dream of the tech industry is to sell their company at an inflated price and walk away,” he commented, suggesting that this mentality is affecting video game studios.

Beart’s voice resonates at a critical moment for voice actors, who are part of the SAG-AFTRA union and have been on strike since July 2024. AI has become one of the central points of the negotiations, generating tensions between workers and companies in the sector. A recent study revealed that most video game developers use AI technologies, despite concerns about the potential loss of jobs among human workers.

For his part, the CEO of Electronic Arts, Andrew Wilson, has stated that although AI could lead to job losses in the short term, in the long run he expects it to create more job opportunities, a pattern that has been seen in previous labor revolutions. In related news, a video showing Aloy from Horizon in an AI assistant demo generated criticism from both the community and the actress who voices her, Ashly Burch, who also denounced this use of technology.

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The actress who voices the protagonist of the Horizon franchise is concerned about the use of AI in the video game

Ashly Burch, the voice actress known for her iconic role as Aloy in the Horizon franchise games, has expressed her concern about the future of the gaming industry due to the increasing use of artificial intelligence technology. This concern arises after the leak of a tech demo of AI featuring Aloy, which has generated controversy for its lack of nuance and emotion, potentially affecting the narrative quality of video games. The actress, not very satisfied with the AI In a video posted on TikTok, Burch clarified that the demo does not reflect […]

Ashly Burch, the voice actress known for her iconic role as Aloy in the Horizon franchise games, has expressed her concern about the future of the gaming industry due to the increasing use of artificial intelligence technology. This concern arises after the leak of an AI technology demo featuring Aloy, which has generated controversy due to its lack of nuance and emotional depth, potentially affecting the narrative quality of video games.

The actress, not very satisfied with AI

In a video posted on TikTok, Burch clarified that the demo does not reflect active development and that her performance was not used to train the AI version of Aloy. However, the actress expressed concern not only for her personal career but also for the impact that these technologies could have on the way acting in video games is perceived. Burch emphasized the need to protect actors from motion capture and voice work amid the SAG-AFTRA strike, which seeks to establish safeguards against the replacement of their jobs by AI, similar to a struggle that has already occurred in the film and television industry.

Fans of the Horizon saga have expressed their discontent on social media, arguing that the use of AI dehumanizes the gaming experience. Many followers have made it clear that they will not support the future of the series if this technology is chosen over human performances. Burch emphasized that losing the fight for protection against the use of AI would compromise the future of performances in video games, affecting the quality and depth needed to tell meaningful stories.

As the gaming industry advances technologically, the situation of voice actors and capture becomes a crucial topic. The gaming community and industry professionals must come together to ensure that technological evolution does not replace the human talent that brings characters and narratives in video games to life.

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Video game voice actors are very angry about the agreement between SAG-AFTRA and artificial intelligence

Video game voice actors are very upset about the SAG-AFTRA agreement with artificial intelligence, and they have good reasons for it.

Few social progress has been achieved without struggle. That is why the work of trade unions is important. They help workers when things go wrong, ensure that things continue smoothly when they go well, and organize everything in both cases. That does not mean they are infallible, of course. Because, as SAG-AFTRA has shown, even large unions known for their successes can miss the mark.

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Recently, SAG-AFTRA, the film and television actors’ union, has announced that they have reached a historic agreement regarding the use of actors’ voices in video games. The deal is that Replica Studios, a company dedicated to licensing and using AI voice replicas for video games, can make deals with SAG-AFTRA members to create and license digital replicas of their voice. All within ethical agreements. Or so says SAG-AFTRA.

This solves one of the biggest problems with the use of AI-generated voices: the use of voices of people who have not accepted those uses. Something that, by Replica and SAG-AFTRA, solves all the problems they had with the technology.

The problem is that was not the only issue with this technology. Voice actors exist and, as it is evident, they are deeply upset with this treatment. Making themselves heard on social media, voice actors have emphasized how this significantly harms them, as companies can now simply use digitized voices instead of real-life voice actors. Something that will seriously damage their profession, and that SAG-AFTRA does not seem to have taken into consideration at any time.

Of course, we will have to see who and under what circumstances are interested in signing contracts of this kind. And if SAG-AFTRA ends up retracting from this “historic deal”. But what is clear is that, in this case, they do not seem to understand the importance, and the damage that a technology like AI can do to the work of voice actors.

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The video game industry is facing one of its biggest crises: the drums of a strike are sounding

Dubbing and motion capture actors approve the possibility of going on strike if negotiations for their working conditions do not advance.

To gain rights, one must fight. To maintain them, one must defend them. This requires conversations, negotiations, and sometimes more. For example, strikes. It’s something no one wants to have to do, but in certain situations, it’s necessary. It’s what must be done to achieve what is fair. And that’s what the video game industry is now facing: the specter of a strike looming over its head.

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This is because the SAG-AFTRA union has announced that a strike is also on the table for video game voice actors and motion capture performers. The union conducted a vote regarding an authorization request sent by one of its members earlier this month, and 98.32% of the participants in the vote are in favor of going on strike. However, there’s a condition: it will only happen if negotiations with the video game companies do not progress.

This means that if negotiations stall, the negotiating committee of the SAG-AFTRA union has the authorization from its members to initiate a strike. But it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen.

In any case, it appears likely to happen. The agreement between voice actors and motion capture performers and video game companies has been unsuccessfully negotiated since October 2022. While the next negotiations are scheduled for this week, SAG-AFTRA doesn’t seem convinced that they will be fruitful. However, perhaps the recent preliminary agreement reached by Hollywood writers and actors might tilt the balance in their favor.

SAG-AFTRA is advocating for video game actors to receive salary improvements comparable to other actors, protection against the use of AI, a five-minute break for every hour worked, the presence of doctors on sets, a ban on requesting hazardous performances for auditions, and protection against vocal stress. The companies they are negotiating with include Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, VoiceWorks Productions, and WB Games.

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