SAG-AFTRA members have ratified the 2025 Interactive Media Agreement by an overwhelming majority, signifying an official conclusion to the nearly yearlong video game strike that first began in July of last year.
With a vote of over 95% in favor, the deal’s approval followed last month’s tentative agreement with major video game companies, which then marked the suspension of the strike.
The new contract — made in partnership with Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic Arts Productions Inc., Formosa Interactive LLC, Insomniac Games Inc., Llama Productions LLC, Take 2 Productions Inc. and WB Games Inc. — will go into effect immediately.
The agreement provides compounded increases in performer compensation at a rate of 15.17%, plus additional 3% increases in Novembers 2025, 2026 and 2027. The overtime rate maximum for overscale performers will now also be based on double scale. The health & retirement contribution rates to the AFTRA Retirement Fund will now be raised from 16.5% to 17% and then to 17.5% in October of next year.
As with the dual strikes in 2023, artificial intelligence was a big sticking point in negotiations. As such, the new contract establishes performer safety guardrails and gains around AI, including consent and disclosure requirements for artificially generated digital replica use and the ability for performers to suspend consent for the generation of new material during a strike.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said of the deal in a statement, “I commend the strong leadership of Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Chair Sarah Elmaleh, who remained steadfast through three years of hard bargaining while facing many challenging headwinds during a challenging negotiation cycle. This deal achieves important progress around AI protections, and progress is the name of the game! My sincere respect goes out to the entire video game performer community and their allies for their solidarity during the strike which provided the necessary leverage to secure this deal’s many essential gains.”
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator, added, “All of us at SAG-AFTRA would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the video game performers and allies who endured a great deal of sacrifice throughout the 11-month strike. I’d also like to express my sincerest gratitude to the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee and its chair, Sarah Elmaleh, who have worked tirelessly for nearly three years in order to achieve these necessary gains and protections alongside our negotiating staff and lead negotiator Ray Rodriguez. Now that the agreement is ratified, video game performers will be able to enjoy meaningful gains and important AI protections, which we will continue to build on as uses of this technology settle and evolve.”
On behalf of the video game producers that are party to the agreement, spokesperson Audrey Cooling stated: “We are pleased that SAG-AFTRA members have ratified a new Interactive Media Agreement, which delivers historic wage increases, industry-leading AI protections, and enhanced health and safety measures for performers. We look forward to building on our industry’s decades-long partnership with the union and continuing to create groundbreaking entertainment experiences for billions of players worldwide.”
Votes were submitted online and by mail-in ballot by today’s due date at 5 p.m. PT. The final vote was certified by Integrity Voting Systems, an impartial election service based in Everett, Wash.