Online games could be first to be hit by the video game acting strike if the dispute is not resolved quickly, according to a union boss. Performers in the industry walked out on 26 July after a failure to reach an agreement over the use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in development. Members of union SAG-Aftra, which represents about 2,500 performers, recently staged a picket outside the offices of Warner Bros, one of 10 game companies negotiating with the union.
They say their offer gives workers "meaningful protections" but SAG-Aftra disagrees. BBC Newsbeat spoke to Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the union's chief negotiator, to find out what it could mean for gamers. Though the strike is focused on a single issue, the rules around it are a little less clear.
Games that began development before September 2023 are officially exempt from strike action, so this year's big releases and the hugely anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 are unlikely to be affected. Because video game development takes a long time and is very secretive, the effects on games might not be clear for a while. Duncan predicts that "live gaming" - a term used to describe regularly updated titles like Fortnite and Apex Legends - "will be affected most quickly".
"Those are games that are constantly rolling out new content at all times, rely on subscribers and constant refresh in order to maintain their relevance," he says. However, almost all big online games were made well before September 2023. Electro.