Published May 2025
Equity recently met with representatives from SAG-AFTRA who provided an update on their strike action, where they currently are in their fight, and how Equity can support them. Detailed information is outlined below.
The essential points covered are as follows:
- SAG-AFTRA union members are still on strike in video games in the US.
- The main fight is around AI, and demanding fair terms and compensation for usage.
- SAG-AFTRA members are turning down work to hold the line on their fight. There is a risk that employers will seek to bring some videogames over to the UK and hire UK based performers on poor pay and terrible terms. Equity is resisting this and warns that terms in the UK will worsen if this is not resisted.
- The SAG-AFTRA strike checker provides the 'status' of games to show if it is a 'struck' production.
- Working on a struck production undermines the strike action, and puts members at risk of reputational damage and potential issues with joining SAG-AFTRA in future.
- Equity members can safeguard their future by resisting poor terms and conditions here in the UK.
- You can decide as an individual if you want to take on work here. Equity strongly advises you to check the strike status of any games work, and to demand Equity terms at minimum.
See Equity's recommended minimum rates and best practice guidelines.
SAG-AFTRA union members in the US have been on strike in videogames for around nine months. This means nine months of refusing work, sacrificing income and experience to hold their position to resist problematic AI provisions and in-perpetuity all-rights buyouts for multi picture use in their games contracts.
As the strike continues, it is even more important that we establish a position here in the UK to protect our future and the future of work in games. US Games producers will start to look to the UK as a place to come for cheap labour and exploitative conditions, as they meet resistance from performers in the US.
Games strike update
Now is a crucial time in the SAG-AFTRA Games strike and the actions that we take here in the UK in response to the strike can shape the outcome. If we resist the changes that union members in the US are striking over, we can help them win and ensure that we don’t face the same fate here.
Equity is not legally able to instruct our members to withdraw labour (go on strike) in solidarity with our US comrades. We can however, give you all the facts you need to decide how best you can demonstrate solidarity to push the strike forwards and to help SAG-AFTRA win.
Firstly, you must seriously consider the implications of working on runaway productions (productions that were originally due to be made in the US but come to the UK to record on unfavourable terms, e.g. with restrictive buyouts and low pay for performers). Working on a production like this not only undermines strike action in the US and makes the fight harder, but will mean conditions, pay and terms in the UK will worsen. It may be tempting in the short term to accept a job, but it will mean that terms we accept now will set a precedent for the future leaving us no room to negotiate.
We are in a really powerful position in the UK to stand up for better terms here. We can close off avenues to games developers who want to worsen pay and conditions, and welcome them to make games in the UK only if they do so on terms that do not undermine SAG-AFTRA.
If UK performers accept restrictive buyouts, with all rights across multiple titles bought out in perpetuity, it may mean that more work comes to the UK but it will mean work will be on terrible terms and pay, with your potential earnings in future completely scuppered.
If UK performers give the green light to the use of A.I. to replace performances, this will be the the end of performers being an essential tool to make videogames. Being an essential part of the game is what gives you power and leverage.
Currently, performers (both voice, mo-cap and p-cap) are crucial to making a videogame. YOU have something developers and producers need and cannot replicate. If we give these rights away, we lose our power, lose our leverage and will have even less ability to negotiate decent pay and conditions in games.
It is also vital to point out that if you do choose to work on a struck production, it can mean problematic reputational damage in months or years to come when the game comes out and fellow union members can see who took a role in a game that they were due to work on but were on strike.
It is crucial that performers, casting directors, agents, etc, all do their due diligence to check that the game they are working on is not a struck production. You can do this easily by heading to the strike checker here:
Interactive Media (Video Game) Strike | SAG-AFTRA
You will need to input the game’s production code/ ID or code name. If you do not have this information, ask for it. Ask whoever is reaching out to you to work on the game for the production ID or strike status.
Once you’ve entered the production number, you’ll see one of three results: Green, Amber, Red, and explain to you the strike status of that game.
RED/ GAME OVER! Means this is a struck production and SAG-AFTRA members are not able to work on this game. You need to consider this if you are thinking of working on that game. It would be undermining the US strike action.
If the production ID is invalid or you don’t get a result on the website, email videogamesstrike@sagaftra.org and with as much information as you have on the game and they will be able to help you.
Please ensure your agent has this information and checks the status of each game.
Ensure your agent asks casting directors the strike status of a game.
Games producers and developers are trying to split the workforce, to divide and conquer. We mean this internationally. They are relying on the idea that unions across the globe do not talk to each other. If we keep each other informed, we can fight together and win together.
It is absolutely the case that the videogames strike in the US is everybody’s fight, whether you are US-based or not. The terms that employers are trying to get into contracts in the US will absolutely head our way if we do not resist it now.
The important thing is we keep talking to one another. Let your fellow performers know if you decide not to take a job in support of the strike. Let your agent know to check the strike status of a game. Let each other know if an audition is actually for a struck production. Take pride in supporting and keep your fellow performers in the loop. Information is power. Sharing information can help us win.
The following chart shows the proposals on the table with the SAG strike: