With much of Hollywood out of action and SAG-AFTRA video game actors negotiating with publishers over a new union contract, the legitimate possibility of a voice actor strike continues to loom. But it’s not something that’s keeping Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick awake at night, as he confirmed during an earnings call that the upcoming GTA 6 is “completely protected” from any potential issues.
Asked during an earnings call whether the open world sequel, which is scheduled to be officially revealed in December, could be delayed due to a strike, the executive first suggested that he believes a resolution will be found. “Negotiations are expected to resume next week,” he said. “We're optimistic. We value excellent labour relations, and we're looking forward to reaching an agreement that serves everyone well.”
In the worst-case scenario, though, Zelnick insisted that the new Grand Theft Auto game will not be affected. This could potentially be because all of the hotly anticipated sequel’s voice lines have already been recorded, although GTA Online has continuously added new content with cutscenes, so we’d expect the same live service aspects to apply to the new game as well.
While video game actors are not currently striking, they’ve yet to reach an agreement with game companies, as they seek protections against being replaced by AI and mandatory breaks. Negotiations have been on hold for several weeks, but judging by Zelnick’s comments, a resolution could be found as early as next week – otherwise this story could rumble on for a little while longer yet.
[source ign.com]
Comments 30
I think it's a no brainer that AI at some point may be used and I'll be very surprised if the games business will be barred from using it according to laws, but who knows.
If the strike goes long a rising number of those American characters might end up with Scottish accents.
GTA may not be worried... but the video game industry in general absolutely needs to be scared of unionisation. Its not just the threat of AI either, its things like sexual harassment and dangerously unhealthy working conditions.
No one really cared about Hollywood going on strike lets be honest. Hollywood and TV has in many ways had its day. But video games? Hoo boy. Imagine the servers for Call of Duty or GTA5 or Fortnite being deliberately closed for six months. Never forget that, like it or hate it, GTA5 is the most profitable piece of media in human history. This is where the money is at now.
TBH I can't blame studios for not always catering to their employees. As long as you are not breaking laws do what you feel will bring you the most money. Nothing else matters ultimately. It's what keeps the lights on.
Funny how we call it GTA 6 but on the official Rockstar Website its stated as “the next Grand Theft Auto”. Could just be GTA Online 2
@LifeGirl Hollywood and TV has had its day? I mean, that’s the wildest comment I’ve ever seen.
It’d be bad for gaming but it was certainly bad for TV and Film too…
@Yaycandy Any bet it'll be listed as a GTA V DLC? XD
Removed - inappropriate
Oh the irony... if a strike pushed them to using AI
@LifeGirl This is such a dreadful take. Unionisation is the best thing that could happen the industry, the only people it's bad for are greedy execs like Bobby Kotick.
@themightyant
Kinda of a self-fulfiling prophecy if it comes to that.
Anyways, unlike Hollywood, game industry can simply tell SAG-AFTRA to stick their strike where the sun doesn't shine and outsource VA, Mocap and similar stuff to other countries.
@Yaycandy I was wondering that too..."NEXT GTA"...is it a spinoff that'll release across all consoles just so Herr Strauss Zelnick can answer to investors, and shut the people who say R* takes too long to release games up...
Use non-actors. I can read and I can do a better job than some of the bad voice actors I've heard over the years.
@themightyant just like train drivers pushing people to use it less. May benefit slightly in the short term. Long term not so much.
LifeGirl wrote:
On top of this being a bad take it's also inaccurate and very western centric. GTAV has made TakeTwo around $7.7bn as reported earlier this year. Whereas things like Candy Crush are $8.45bn as of 2022, Fortnite $10.23bn as of 2020, World of Warcraft $11.32bn as of 2018, CrossFire $13.08bn as of 2021, All the way up to Dungeon Fighter Online which has made over $22bn as of 2023. Asia's spending, especially on mobile and PC, dwarfs the west.
We're fully protected as we have the AI programmed and ready to go 😁
But hopefully it just means development is actually near done in that regard, and the marketing phase can kick in without the year or two wait that some expect after the announcement
@LifeGirl UAW Ford Local 862 here.. and my brothers n sisters can shut it all down if it means keeping AI out.. already rich Hollywood actors aren’t the issue.. it’s the writers and people behind the scenes, it’s the background extras and supporting actors.. hopefully our UAW win can lift their win up too.. every hard working person deserves a living wage and these Hollywood execs need to quit this pandering to the 5%
@themightyant Where did you get that figure from? The top Google search says $100 billion for GTA5, my dude.
@LifeGirl MANY sources. But here's one with links to all their individual sources. Most of these are publicly traded company so we can see their financial reports.
The only reference I could find for GTAV and $100 billion was a challenge for players to steal it in a heist. Where did you get that figure from? Multiple sources including this one suggests $7.7 billion.
@themightyant Dude, it is literally the top Google search for "what is the most profitable game of all time."
Removed - flaming/arguing
Its so baffling that so many people applaud horrible treatment towards their workers. This does not only applies the biggest names or normal jobs.
The best thing is that people who applaud this behavior also contribute towards terrible treatment of workers in general.
Thats why i always laugh when people like Musk who actively fight towards the worst treatment of worker get put on a pedastal.
@LifeGirl Not for me it isn't, but google tailors results to people. Hence I asked for a source, like I supplied to you as I believe you have this wrong.
Here's another listing the top 50 highest grossing gaming franchises of all time. It's a few years out of date but even then the whole GTA franchise, not just GTAV, was at $9.3billion.
@PsBoxSwitchOwner Yeah how dare they fight for a honest payment a decent living wage when they inconvenience you a little.
@Flaming_Kaiser they can do what they want. Good on them if they get it. But they can’t expect companies/people to look not look at alternatives.
Gaming company would rather put random people rather than comply with voice actor strike, good voice is nice but people play games for the gameplay and graphics, not voice.
@CielloArc @themightyant It's shocking how happy people can be for big corp to make even more money by stepping on the smaller people.
But if you look at the protection of workers the US is one the worst in the west with no mandated days free, Severance Pay and the U.S. is the only major economy and advanced country in the world that does not have a universal healthcare system in place for its citizens and workforce.
The US is a joke in for me towards rights. Oh yeah the right to bare a gun, and be a racist in public im sorry freedom of speech without any repercussions.
Removed - flaming/arguing; user is banned
@Flaming_Kaiser I'm not for big corp stepping on the smaller people at all. But this is complex and nuanced discussion. As a business owner and pragmatist AI is here to stay, we need to figure out how to enable that without killing jobs. A blanket ban on AI for voice is NOT the best way forward, it stifles creativity.
It's potentially a very exciting time, with new possibilities, but also a scary one. Needs to be managed very carefully.
And yes US healthcare is a joke.
@themightyant Better make good rules because if one thing is certain big corp or big money will take advantage of the people.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...