Video Game Actors Strike Looking More Possible, Bargaining Talks Apparently Going Nowhere
SAG-AFTRA, the world’s largest labor union representing performers and broadcasters, is asking its members to vote for the organization’s right to call for a strike if necessary. While the union supports all kinds of actors, this strike authorization is aimed at protecting video game performers from issues such as low pay and recreating their likenesses with AI.
President Fran Drescher addresses these issues on Twitter with a video highlighting the cause and calling for action. She emphasizes that this vote is only to approve strike authorization to use against companies as leverage, not to strike immediately. Eligible SAG-AFTRA members can read about the Interactive Media Agreement and vote now from the official website.
“Right now is the time to show our solidarity with video game performers,” Drescher says in the video. “It’s been nearly a year since SAG-AFTRA began negotiating the interactive media agreement with video game companies. Despite many multi-day bargaining sessions, the companies are refusing to meet our members’ needs in vital areas.”
Video game voice actors held an 11-month strike between 2016 and 2017, which eventually led to an agreement to improve working conditions. SAG-AFTRA also joined the WGA in striking Hollywood earlier this year, with both of those ongoing. The work stoppage and delays have already cost Warner Bros. $500 million.
Again, SAG-AFTRA has been bargaining for nearly a year to finalize the Interactive Media Agreement. However, it says companies have been dragging their feet on meeting members’ key needs. It lists companies participating in negotiations on its website, including Activision Productions, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts Productions, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, VoiceWorks Productions, and WB Games.
SAG-AFTRA, also known as the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has bargaining sessions scheduled with video game companies between September 26-28. Members have until 5 PM PT on Monday, September 25 to submit their vote.
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Humble Bundle’s Spring Sale Is Stacked With Great Game Deals
Humble Bundle’s Spring Sale 2024 is underway, offering big price cuts on hundreds of PC games, including titles from big publishers and small indies. Many of the games in the sale are even Steam Deck compatible.
The sale is kicking off at the perfect time for anyone who recently got into the Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime and wants to experience the post-apocalyptic games the show is based on. Every mainline Fallout game is discounted in the sale, including the two original isometric 90s RPGs available in the Fallout Classic Collection for $5 (was $20). If you want to play modern, first-person titles in the franchise, Fallout 3: Game of the Year edition is just $5 (was $20), Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition is $6.49 (was $20), and Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition is $15 (was $60). You can also get Fallout 76, which offers an online multiplayer spin on the series’ open-world RPG formula, for just $8 (was $40). Many of Bethesda’s other open-world RPGs like Skyrim and Starfield are also part of the sale.
If all those Fallout deals aren’t enough post-apocalyptic roleplaying for you, there’s also Wasteland 3: The Colorado Collection, which features an isometric perspective and turn-based combat like Fallouts 1 and 2, but with modern graphics, controls, and presentation.
While big sales like this are the perfect chance to pick up older releases for cheap, you’ll also find discounts on newer games like the first-person survival shooter Abiotic Factor and the medieval city-building strategy game Manor Lords. It’s also a good time to grab acclaimed indies like Celeste, Inscription, Slay The Spire, and more while they’re on sale.
Many of the deals in Humble’s Spring Sale are continuations of several discounts from the recent Golden Week sales from Japanese publishers like Capcom, Sega, and Square Enix. Check the list below for a bunch more of our favorite deals in Humble’s Spring Sale. The sale only runs through May 21, so be sure to take advantage of these discounts before they’re gone.
While you’re shopping at Humble, you should also check out May’s Humble Choice lineup. Subscribers can get eight PC games (Steam keys) for $12, including Yakuza: Like a Dragon and Hi-Fi Rush. Once you claim the games, they will stay in your library forever, even if you cancel your subscription, so you can view Humble Choice as a traditional game bundle. Active subscribers can also the Humble Vault, a rotating library of 50-plus DRM-free games.
For even more PC game deals, check out our roundup of the 75 best deals in Fanatical’s massive May Madness sale.
