What This Means for Video Games

After over 10 months, a deal has been struck with voice actors. This agreement includes a pay raise and introduces "secondary performance payments," ensuring actors are compensated if AI uses their voice.

The strike happened primarily because voice actors feared being replaced by AI, leading to less work and lower income. The core concern was AI's ability to replicate their voices.

This deal means AI voice replication might become more common in games. Studios can now potentially use it with less backlash from actors, as compensation is guaranteed. However, it also means actors have less control over what their replicated voices say. AI could be used to make them say anything.

This technology could enable dynamic NPCs whose dialogue changes for every player, responding in real-time and making each interaction unique. But it's not all positive. A significant problem with the deal is that actors retain the right to refuse permission for AI use of their digital replica at any time, especially during a strike. This means studios must halt any AI voice usage if an actor withdraws consent, particularly during labour actions.

Furthermore, while actors will get paid more for AI usage, this increased cost must come from somewhere. This could lead to either:

Decreased budgets elsewhere in the game (e.g., graphics, level design, gameplay features).

Increased game prices, which many consumers already find too expensive.

Long-Term Implications for Video Games and Actors

One potential downside of the strike is that it may have inadvertently highlighted exactly why studios want to use AI: it's faster, cheaper, and doesn't require scheduling actors or waiting for them to come into work. By striking, actors made themselves more expensive and potentially seemed less reliable. Paradoxically, this could increase studios' motivation to replace them with AI in the long run, making the strike potentially shortsighted.

The strike's long-term effect might actually harm the very people it was meant to help by emphasising the advantages AI offers producers. Only time will tell if this deal proves beneficial, as future negotiations, new laws, or technological shifts might change the landscape.

We could also see increased public acceptance of AI voices as consumers experience (and continue to feel) the effects of the strike on game and movie releases. While this deal specifically covers video game actors, its structure and outcomes could influence how film and television actors approach their own negotiations regarding AI.

What Does This Mean for You (the Gamer)?

For you, this could lead to:

• Increased game prices.

• More of a game's budget being allocated to voice acting, potentially meaning less for other areas (like gameplay depth or visual polish).

On the positive side:

• Actors, more confident they won't be replaced by AI without compensation, might deliver better performances.

The end of the strike means fewer delays in game releases, so you get to play highly anticipated titles sooner.