SAG-AFTRA is launching a fourth tier of its proposed indie video game contract that covers game developers’ projects in the $15 million to $30 million budget range. The news comes amid ongoing negotiations between the union and gaming giants including Activision, EA, WB Games, Disney and Take Two, among others.
Per the actors union, the “agreement further demonstrates SAG-AFTRA’s goal of expanding coverage for video games while incorporating many of the sought-after provisions essential for the safety and sustainability of performers’ careers and includes robust A.I. protections that cover voice and movement performance for all four tiers.”
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The updated proposed agreement, titled the Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement, now includes rates for projects in four ranges: $250,000 to $1 million, $1 million to $5 million, $5 million to $15 million, and $15 million to $30 million.
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According to SAG-AFTRA, the document “captures project success with secondary payments, which can be prepaid at a reduced rate” and “requires informed consent and compensation for the use of digital replicas of a performer.”
The contract was initially introduced with three tiers in February, allowing independent video game developers and projects with smaller budgets to access union talent for projects up to $15 million.
The union remains in ongoing negotiations for a new contract with the mega gaming studios, with a strike authorization vote being approved by 98% in September.
“With this expanded scope of the Tiered-Budget Agreement, even more projects will benefit from the skills and experience of union performers, and performers will have more opportunities to work with the benefits and protections of a union contract, including important A.I. guardrails,” SAG-AFTRA interactive media agreement negotiating committee chair Sarah Elmaleh said. “As a union, we are committed to creating contracts and waivers that foster actor-developer collaboration across every budget and scope. Thousands of video games are released every year and each one deserves to benefit from union talent.”
SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland added: “All levels of the tiered-budget agreement include crucial A.I. provisions and other protections our members need. It is critical that protections apply to all of our members who perform in video games, including movement performers. It’s also worth noting that in the event of a strike of the Interactive Media Agreement, members would be able to continue working on video games being produced under a tiered-budget agreement.”