Image Credit: comicbook.com

After nearly 11 months, the SAG‑AFTRA video game voice actors strike has been suspended. A tentative deal between the union and major studios was reached June 9, with the strike officially paused at noon PT on June 11, 2025. The SAG‑AFTRA National Board met on June 12 to review the agreement, which will soon head to members for ratification.

What’s in the Tentative Agreement

• AI Protections: The heart of the dispute lay in how studios could use AI to replicate voices. This deal mandates transparency, explicit consent, and compensation for any digital replicas, putting voices firmly back under actor control.
• Historic Pay Raises: Voice actors are set to receive a wage increase of over 24 %, alongside boosted overtime rates and improved health and safety protocols.
• Health & Safety Upgrades: The agreement includes stricter safety standards – namely, rest periods, medical support during motion capture shoots, and safer working conditions.

Who’s Involved

Studios signing the tentative deal include Activision, Electronic Arts, Disney Character Voices, Epic Games, Insomniac, Take‑Two, WB Games, Formosa Interactive, Blindlight, and others.

Why It Matters

• Protecting Creative Talent: With AI rapidly advancing, performers were at risk of losing control over their voice likeness; this deal sets a precedent for consent-based AI usage. SAG‑AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree‑Ireland framed it well: “Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails… alongside other important gains”.
• Industry Ripple Effects: These AI guardrails are already influencing contract negotiations across entertainment media, not just games, which push other sectors to adopt similar standards.
• Game Development Relief: With voice work and performance capture back online, affected titles like Destiny 2, Genshin Impact, League of Legends, and others can resume stalled production.

What Happens Next

• Union Approval: SAG‑AFTRA members must vote to ratify the deal. If approved, the strike will officially end, and suspension lifted in full.
• Selective Non-Union Exceptions: Noticeably, studios like HoYoverse (developer of Genshin Impact), not party to the agreement, aren’t covered, keeping some voice work on hold as those actors continue independent strikes.
• Broader AI Dialogue: This deal strengthens SAG‑AFTRA’s push for federal protections such as the NO FAKES Act, ensuring AI rights across the board.

Final Thoughts

This strike marks a pivotal moment in gaming history: when performers refused to yield, and the industry answered with meaningful action. Studios now must respect consent and compensate creatively, and voice actors get fair rewards and rules of the road.

If you’re passionate about what shapes our favorite games—from the voices that bring worlds to life to the policies that protect them—your support matters. Subscribe to The Gamers Cut for deeper dives, exclusive interviews, and insider takes on the biggest stories in gaming.