The National Board of Screen Actors Guild American Television and Radio Artists Federation (SAG-AFTRA) has approved a temporary agreement with the video game negotiation group.
The agreement regarding the terms of the interactive media agreement will be submitted to Membership for ratification.
The new agreement will achieve key guardrails and benefits around AI, including the requirement for informed consent across various AI uses and the ability to suspend the use of informed replicas for use with digital replicas during strikes.
If ratified, the agreement will provide compound interest increases in performer coverage in November 2025, November 2026 and November 2027 at ratification at a rate of 15.17% and an additional 3% increase. The contribution rate of health and retirement to SAG-AFTRA’s health plan will be increased from 16.5% at ratification to 17% and to 17.5% in October 2026.
The benefits of compensation include the establishment of a collectively separated minimum for the use of digital replicas created with IMA covered performance and higher minimums (7.5 times scale) for “real-time generations”, embedding digital replica voice chatbots into video games. “Secondary Performance Payment” secures rewards when visual performance is reused in another video game.
Important new safety regulations have also been ensured, including requirements that allow qualified healthcare professionals to be present in rehearsals and performances, or that risky behavior or working conditions are readily available. Currently, principal performers on camera are offered a period of rest, and employers are no longer able to request performers to complete stunts and other dangerous activities in virtual auditions.
Audrey Cooling, a spokesman for the Interactive Media Agreement’s Video Game Producer Party, said earlier this week:
Cooling “provides performers with an industry-leading AI provision that requires more than 24% of historic wage increases, increased health and safety protections, and transparency, consent and rewards for the use of digital replicas in games. We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for players around the world.”
The full terms and conditions of the three-year contract will be released in ratification materials on Wednesday, June 18th.
An interim agreement was reached with videogame employers on June 9th, and the strike was officially suspended on June 11th.
Member information meetings are scheduled and additional details will be available on sagaftra.org/videogames2025 In the next few days.
Eligible SAG-AFTRA members are scheduled to vote for ratification until 5pm on Wednesday, July 9th, 2025.
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, newswriters, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, narration artists and other entertainment and media experts.
