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After nearly a year, voice actors in the SAG-AFTRA have ratified an agreement to end a dispute that had forced many of gaming’s most recognisable voices to stay away from the sector.
90 per cent of those who voted agreed to the deal, which grants actors a bonus of up to $2,100 depending on the project. The union had been looking for a royalty structure based on sales, but has instead accepted this compromise – at least for now.
As part of the agreement, actors will also receive more information about the nature of the projects they are being invited to work on – this had been a sticking point as while, on the one hand, it gave performers more information with which to negotiate, it on the other hand put publishers in the position of possibly revealing sensitive information about upcoming games.
It also includes greater measures for helping to prevent vocal stress, which is a particular concern for video game voice actors owing to the many assorted grunts, groans, screams and yelps they have to perform.
The new contract will remain in effect until November 2020.
“This agreement is the first step towards streamlining the work our members do in the video game industry,” SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris said. “The deal includes significant improvements in the area of transparency and the payment structure ensures that our members are compensated fairly for their work. I am excited for what this means for our members moving forward.”
National executive director David White added: “I’d like to thank our chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez as well as our Interactive negotiating committee for leading these negotiations. This negotiation was hard fought and hard won. We achieved a stronger successor agreement and I am proud of the results.”
