Latest news with #VoiceActors
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
video game actors' strike could change the rules for AI in gaming
A protracted 11-month strike by video game performers is poised to conclude this week, with union members voting on a tentative agreement that promises pay rises, control over their likenesses, and vital artificial intelligence protections. Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) have until Wednesday at 5 p.m. Pacific to ratify the deal. Voice and body performers had raised significant concerns that unregulated AI use could displace them and threaten their artistic autonomy. Sarah Elmaleh, a voice actor and chair of SAG-AFTRA's interactive branch negotiating committee, described the feeling as "like diamond amounts of pressure suddenly lifted." She added that while it is "obviously far from resolved," the prospect of concluding the dispute "feels like a lightening and a relief." AI concerns are especially dire in the video game industry, where human performers infuse characters with distinctive movements, shrieks, falls and plot-twisting dialogue. 'I hope and I believe that our members, when they look back on this, will say all of the sacrifices and difficulty we put ourselves through to achieve this agreement will ultimately be worth it because we do have the key elements that we need to feel confident and moving forward in this business,' said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator. Here's a look at the contract currently up for vote, and what it means for the future of the video game industry. How did the current strike play out? Video game performers went on strike last July following nearly two years of failed negotiations with major game studios, as both sides remained split over generative AI regulations. More than 160 games signed interim agreements accepting AI provisions SAG-AFTRA was seeking, the union said, which allowed some work to continue. The video game industry is a massive global industry, generating an estimated $187 billion in 2024, according to game market forecaster Newzoo. 'OD,' and 'Physint' were two games delayed due to the strike during the filming and casting stage, video game developer Hideo Kojima wrote in December. Riot Games, a video game developer, announced that same month that some new skins in 'League of Legends' would have to use existing voice-overs, since new content couldn't be recorded by striking actors. Skins are cosmetic items that can change the visual appearance of a player and is sometimes equipped with new voice-overs and unique recorded lines. The proposed contract "builds on three decades of successful partnership between the interactive entertainment industry and the union" to deliver 'historic wage increases' and 'industry-leading AI provisions," wrote Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers involved in the deal. 'We look forward to continuing to work with performers to create new and engaging entertainment experiences for billions of players throughout the world,' Cooling wrote. Video game performers had previously gone on strike in October 2016, with a tentative deal reached 11 months later. That strike helped secure a bonus compensation structure for voice actors and performance capture artists. The agreement was ratified with 90% support, with 10% of members voting. The proposed contract secures an increase in performer compensation of just over 15% upon ratification and an additional 3% increase each year of the three-year contract. How would AI use change in video games? AI concerns have taken center stage as industries across various sectors attempt to keep up with the fast-evolving technology. It's a fight that Hollywood writers and actors undertook during the historic film and TV strikes that forced the industry to a stop in 2023. 'In the last few years, it's become obvious that we are at an inflection point where rules of the road have to be set for AI, and if they aren't, the consequences are potentially very serious,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'I think that really made this negotiation extra important for all of us.' SAG-AFTRA leaders have billed the issues behind the labor dispute — and AI in particular — as an existential crisis for performers. Game voice actors and motion capture artists' likenesses, they say, could be replicated by AI and used without their consent and without fair compensation. The proposed contract delineates clear restrictions on when and how video game companies can create digital replicas, which use AI to generate new performances that weren't recorded by an actor. Employers must obtain written permission from a performer to create a digital replica — consent which must be granted during the performer's lifetime and is valid after death unless otherwise limited, the contract states. The time spent creating a digital replica will be compensated as the same amount of work time it would have required for a new performance. The agreement also requires the employer to provide the performer with a usage report that details how the replica was used and calculates the expected compensation. Elmaleh, who has been voice acting since 2010 and had to turn down projects throughout the strike, said securing these gains required voice actors bring vulnerability and openness to the bargaining table. 'We talked a lot about the personal, the way it affects our displacement as workers and just the sustainability of our careers,' Elmaleh said. 'Our work involves your inner child. It's being very vulnerable, it's being playful.' What's next for the video game industry? The tentative agreement centers on consent, compensation and transparency, which union leaders say are key elements needed for the industry to keep progressing. As the contract is considered by union members, Elmaleh and Crabtree-Ireland said further work needs to be done to ensure the provisions are as broad as necessary. 'Even though there's a deal that's been made now, and we've locked in a lot of really crucial protections and guardrails, the things that we haven't been able to achieve yet, we're going to be continuing to fight for them,' Crabtree-Ireland said. 'Every time these contracts expire is our chance to improve upon them.' Elmaleh said she hopes both the video game companies and performers can soon work collaboratively to develop guidelines on AI as the technology evolves — a process she said should start well the proposed contract would expire in October 2028. Leading negotiations has felt like a full-time job for Elmaleh, who took on the role in a volunteer capacity. As the efforts die down, she said she anxiously anticipates returning to video game acting in a landscape that is safer for performers. Voice acting 'is core to who I am. It's why I fought so hard for this. I wouldn't do this if I didn't love what I do so much. I think it's so special and worthy of protection,' she said.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NTT Solmare to Exhibit Obey Me! and Ex and Bee at Anime Expo 2025!
Announcing a Special Lineup of Events, Including a 3D Concert and Multiple Celebrations for the Obey Me! 5th Anniversary! An Online Livestream Will Also Be Held! LOS ANGELES, June 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT Solmare is excited to announce its return to Anime Expo® 2025, North America's largest anime and pop culture can visit Booth E-30 in the Entertainment Hall to dive into the worlds of Obey Me! and Ex and part of a major collaboration with NTT QONOQ, the event will feature the special Obey Me! 5th anniversary virtual concert and a special autograph session with all seven voice actors from the cast. Obey Me!'s 3D virtual concert will also be streamed! Fans who buy tickets for the online stream will be able to watch the concert live, as well as view the VOD for one week after the concert. Please check each respective site for further details. 1. Anime Expo 2025Booth E-30 Highlights Capture your unforgettable "I do" moment at our romantic proposal photo spot where you can say yes to a proposal from your favorite Obey Me! character! Experience every whisper of the Ex and Bee ASMR drama -- recorded with a binaural microphone and delivered through high-quality headphones for a fully immersive audio experience. Be the first to buy all-new merchandise at Anime Expo. Advance sales of exclusive merchandise and live concert merchandise. Obey Me! Boys: Meet and Greet (Free admission)Don't miss the live panel featuring special guest appearances by the voice actors from both Obey Me! and Ex and Bee. Obey Me! Virtual Concert 2025 - Dawn's Embrace - (In-Person)A high-quality 3D virtual concert featuring the seven brothers from the Obey Me! series, brought to life using NTT QONOQ's cutting-edge virtual live system, Matrix Stream. This event is also scheduled to feature a stage greeting by the Obey Me! Boys. Date & Time: Saturday, July 5, 2025 - Starts at 10:00 AM (PDT)Venue: In-person: The NovoOnline stream: SPWN, ZAIKO, and PromoTix In-Person Ticket: ShowClixURL: Obey Me! Autograph SessionsDate & Time:Friday, July 4, 2025 - Starts at 2:45 PM (PDT)Saturday, July 5, 2025 - Starts at 1:00 PM (PDT)Location: JW Marriott Gold BallroomTicket URL: 2. Online Livestream DetailsOnline Stream Tickets SPWN: ZAIKO: PromoTix: Date & Time: Saturday, July 5, 2025 - Starts at 10:00 AM (PDT) Guest Voice Actors:Kazuya Yamashita (Lucifer), Hirotaka Kobayashi (Mammon), Satoshi Kada (Leviathan), Shinya Sumi (Satan), Miura Ayme (Asmodeus), Kyohei Yaguchi (Beelzebub), Satoshi Onishi (Belphegor) Obey Me! is a hit Otome smartphone game launched in 2019 by NTT Solmare, with over 10 million downloads worldwide. Players fall for seven charming demon brothers through drama-filled, immersive storytelling. In 2023, a second title, Obey Me! Nightbringer, was released to strong acclaim. NTT Solmare is a leading digital entertainment company that creates immersive, character-driven experiences beloved by fans around the globe through mobile games, audio dramas, and interactive stories. Links and Social Media: Obey Me! website: Ex and Bee Link Tree: X: @ObeyMeOfficial1 / @EXandB_Official Instagram: @obey_me_official / @ex_and_bee_official View source version on Contacts NTT Solmare CorporationGame Division: Tateno, NakashimaPhone: +81-6-6228-8861Email: info@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
