The Sag-Aftra agreement covering video game performers expired in November and has been extended on a monthly basis while the union negotiated with major video game companies including Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Epic Games and Disney Character Voices.
In response, a spokesperson representing the companies said they would "continue to negotiate in good faith" to reach an agreement that "reflects the important contributions" of performers represented in video games. "We have reached tentative agreements on over half of the proposals and are optimistic we can find a resolution at the bargaining table," they said.In recent years, the games industry has seen a growing number of A-list actors and celebrities taking on character roles both in voice and appearance, including Kit Harington, Rami Malek and comedian Conan O'Brien.
Idris Elba, who stars as Solomon Reed in the latest spy-thriller adventure expansion for Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, this weekit was "a sign of the times" that video games were becoming a growing medium for actors. "Games and actors have always worked together but we're seeing more notable film actors being moved into gaming," he said.