With the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, how do you think it could impact future collaborations between gaming companies and voice actors? Do you think gaming companies will be forced to meet higher demands, or will they just look for cheaper alternatives like AI-generated voices?
LeslieWylde
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Ask CBX: How could the SAG-AFTRA strike impact future collaborations between gaming companies and voice actors?
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Discussion (3)
I could see the strike shifting the power dynamics. Voice actors are already underpaid compared to how much their work drives a games success. Just look at how iconic performances like the Last of Us or God of War or Cyberpunk were driven by voice talent (and actors in genreal). If SAG-AFTRA gets better conditions, it could lead to bigger budgets for performance capture overall, and maybe even create a trend where voice acting plays a more central role in game marketing
As someone who works in game dev, I think this strike could be a massive alarm for the industry.
Voice actors bring a lot of heart to video game characters. AI might be an alternative in some cases, but anyone whos played a game with bad voice acting knows how much it kills immersion.
AI isnt close to capturing the subtleties of human emotion. Companies might experiment with AI for background characters, but for main roles? I doubt they'll risk it. This strike might actually push them to offer better contracts if they want to keep top-tier talent.
This could be a win for voice actors in the long run. The strike brings attention to how vital their contributions are. If companies want to continue delivering high quality games that resonate emotionally, theyll have to meet those demands. Voice acting is becoming just as important as the graphical fidelity and gameplay mechanics in modern titles.