Since October 2016, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing voice actors for video games, has been on strike. The strike was against 11 video game companies, including Activision, Electronic Arts, and Warner Bros. We have seen the effects of this strike in cases such as the Life is Strange prequel, in which a major character’s voice was replaced. On Saturday, a tentative agreement was reached, which will see the end of the strike if the deal goes through.
Two of the major wins in this agreement are a new bonus structure and new rules regarding transparency on the part of hiring companies. The bonus structure must be paid out no later than the release date of the project and is calculated based on the number of recording sessions the actor had to attend. It starts at $75 for a single session and caps off at $2,100 after ten sessions. An additional payment based on a game’s sales was sought after, but seems to have not made it through.
The transparency rules are interesting and highlight what was a serious problem in the industry. Before, voice actors were often in the dark concerning what their roles were ahead of time. Publishers could hire and record VO without disclosing the whos and whats of a project. Now, prior to signing anything, voice actors must be given details on the project, as well as if the content of the VO includes unusual language, profanity, racial slurs, violence, or sexual content. Stunts are also included in these rules.
The deal will be reviewed in October during a board meeting, after which it may or may not be confirmed.
Source GameSpot