Equity, the UK actors' union, has introduced new minimum rates in a bid to address "systemic low pay" for performers and improve working conditions in the industry. Pay for actors in the UK has not only stagnated beneath inflation rates, but has been significantly lower than in America and Canada despite working with the same game developers. The new rates are solely intended for AAA game development, rather than indie developers.
Further, they are minimum fees as a starting point for negotiation. Minimum rates have previously not been set by Equity due to prior legislation that prevented the publishing of rates without a collective bargaining agreement. Now, Equity is launching its new rates as part of its Game On! campaign to fight for better pay, terms, and conditions for UK performers in video games.
The rates have been set by Equity's Video Game Working Party consisting of Equity members and external consultants, including voice actors David Menkin ( Final Fantasy 16 ), Laurence Bouvard (Perfect Dark Zero), Rebecca Yeo ( Wuthering Waves ), and Alan Turkington (Still Wakes The Deep). Their collective statement reads: "After 18 months of hard work, Equity's Video Game Working Party is proud to launch these recommended minimum rates and best practice guidelines for video games; the first of its kind in this area. This is an unprecedented step in the right direction for performers in the games industry, where the union has previously been held back by restrictive legislation.