After an intense 11-month battle, video game performers have secured a groundbreaking contract that sets new industry standards for worker protections in the age of artificial intelligence. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced that 95% of their members voted to approve a contract that fundamentally reshapes how performers’ digital likenesses and AI technologies can be used.

The agreement represents a significant victory for performers, establishing crucial guardrails around digital replicas and AI usage. Employers must now obtain written consent from performers to create digital replicas, with permissions extending even after an actor’s death unless specifically limited. This means voice actors and motion capture performers will have unprecedented control over how their images and performances are used in future video game productions.

Compensation was another key victory, with performers securing a 15% immediate pay increase and an additional 3% annual raise over the three-year contract. The deal also ensures that time spent creating digital replicas will be compensated as work time, with employers required to provide detailed usage reports.

Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor and negotiating committee chair, emphasized the importance of ongoing vigilance. “These protections are only effective if union members remain engaged and report potential violations,” she explained. The contract’s AI provisions represent a critical first step in protecting creative workers in an rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Major video game companies including Activision, Disney, and Electronic Arts were part of the negotiations, signaling a broader industry recognition of performers’ rights. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director, celebrated the contract as a moment of meaningful progress for performers who “endured a great deal of sacrifice” during the prolonged strike.

This landmark agreement could set precedents for other creative industries grappling with AI’s transformative potential, positioning video game performers at the forefront of defining ethical technological integration in entertainment.