Why are video game voice actors striking and what games are affected?

Culture | Gaming The most anticipated video games are facing delays as the actors who voice the characters announced they would go on strike. Juggernaut GTA 6 could wind up being the biggest casualty, but the walkout is poised to upend the entire gaming industry. Behind the strike is the largest union in entertainment, SAG-AFTRA , which recently brought Hollywood to its knees with a months-long industrial action that resulted in multiple blockbusters being pushed back , including Dune 2, the Avatar sequels, and Deadpool and Wolverine.

Will this bout cause as much chaos? Here’s what we know about the video game actors strike and the games in the firing line. Video game actors are forming a picket line after talks with gaming companies collapsed following 18 months of negotiations . Members of SAG-AFTRA walked out at midnight on Friday (July 26) in the US in a dispute over the use of artificial intelligence .

During the bargaining process, agreements were reached on many issues, the union said, but the use of AI in games remains a sticking point. For its part, SAG-AFTRA is demanding cast-iron guarantees that AI won’t replace voice talent. Actors fear that their voices and digital likenesses could be cloned and used indefinitely without their permission or fair compensation.

The union is particularly concerned about motion capture technology, where actors' physical performances are recorded and can be replicated digitally. OpenAI is launching a search engine to compete with .