The new strike by SAG-AFTRA video game voice actors is an important fight over the use of AI voice models that should be supported at all costs. Strikes, as they usually do, will disrupt at least some current video game projects.
The biggest question mark, however, is one of the biggest video game releases of all time, Grand Theft Auto 6, which will be released in 2025, barring any delays. And desire Is it too late?
Kotaku passed by Conditions of strike, Answer: No. GTA 6 is not one of the affected games as it was in production before August 25, 2023, a move that also covers current Direct Service games as it is under an earlier contract.
The catch here is that workers can selection They should not work in the game in solidarity when a strike occurs and they cannot be punished for doing so. From the SAG-AFTRA website:
„While not striking, this game is produced by a striking company. If you are under a daily contract for this game, you may show solidarity with your fellow union members by choosing not to sign new contracts in the game. However, you may work in the game and not be disciplined for doing so.”
In Rockstar’s case, it’s unclear how many of its voice actors were originally SAG-AFTRA. None of its cast has been confirmed yet, though fans are trying to hunt them down based on trailer clues and voice matches.
If GTA 6 is delayed, it won’t be because of this strike, but because of GTA 6. While Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has expressed hope that the game will be released in the fall of 2025, we’ve seen many AAA fall releases. Next year is delayed for a reason, and I doubt GTA will hit this target.
It remains to be seen when GTA will actually reveal its voice cast, and lately, many games haven’t done so until very close to launch. So it will be a while, and we won’t know any SAG-AFTRA connections until then. As of now, I don’t expect any lag to come out of this situation, as the game isn’t particularly affected.
I hope voice actors assert their rights to not have their voices stolen, and if any game is delayed for any length of time, even GTA, it will be worth it.
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