In one way or another, you and I thought the same thing when the SAG-AFTRA strike was formally announced: to what extent does the withdrawal of actors and union members affect the release plans for GTA 6? What they are demanding is no small thing, mind you, since the use of Artificial Intelligence in video games (and other media) has a dangerous downside that sooner or later had to be addressed. With that in mind, the biggest affected are the big companies, such as Electronic Arts, Activision or, as far as Rockstar Games is concerned, la propia Take Two. Affected in what way?
The strike is an element of pressure when it comes to negotiating. If an agreement is not reached soon, the impact will irremediably affect everything from the release schedule to the viability of projects. In the midst of this situation, and for the part that affects consumers and players, there is a ray of light: the trip to the new Vice City has not been cancelled or postponed. In other words, the development of Rockstar’s next blockbuster has not been cancelled or postponed. continues its course normally
According to statements Kotaku from a representative of Take Two, parent company of Rockstar Games, GTA 6 will be exempt from the fallout from the SAG-AFTRA strike. It’s not that there is any preferential treatment or that voice actors and motion capture actors are going it alone, but according to spokeswoman Audrey Cooling, any game that already in development before September 2023 is also exempt. But with exceptions.
To put us in context, There are two possible scenarios and a precedent to take into account: The last time the American union launched a strike f or video game actors, regardless of their discipline, was in 2016 and it lasted almost a whole year. However, given the nature of the medium, the initiative has very specific concessions, affecting above all future projects. However, it does not immediately paralyze those in development or games as a service. A breath of fresh air, which, as you will see, only for two months.
GTA 6 development gains two months of margin… and time is not on anyone’s side
On the other hand, and this is also crucial, video games with a not-so-excessive budget also have their own exceptions: Stephen Totilo He says projects that have spent between $250,000 and $30 million – a figure far removed from major productions – can go ahead for now as long as they adhere to SAG-AFTRA’s phased agreements.
The way the strike has been planned implies that with immediate effect There are 60 days to find a solution reasonable both for companies and for union representatives before all the games, including now yes GTA 6are left without their corresponding actors.
In fact, if this affects games with a huge narrative component or designed for a single player, the risk is even greater for titles in constant development such as Hero Shooters, fighting games or those that operate on a seasonal or yearly basis.
In any case, and as we mentioned at the beginning, the issue is very delicate: although the demands to limit the use of Artificial Intelligence in video games are legitimate, the terms must be very well established so that the solution is not worse than the problem for all parties involved. That does not mean that AI should stop being used as a tool, mind you, but rather that it should not overlap with professional work. Something that, by the way, has already been in negotiations for 21 months with the main companies in the industry. It is time to make decisions, and Time is not on anyone’s side.
At iGamesNews | Do you remember how GTA IV was announced? It was at E3 2006 and with Peter Moore tattooing the mega bombshells
At iGamesNews | The Joker and the crazy woman with the hammers from the GTA 6 trailer exist: these are the picturesque events on which Rockstar is based
At iGamesNews | The image of the GTA 6 trailer has driven us crazy: more than 15 official versions from other games, fans and even a government
