Members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) have voted with a majority of 98.32% in favor of authorizing a potential video game strike. However, this does not ascertain that the members will go on a strike. It grants union negotiators the permission to call for a strike if they deem it necessary during their negotiations with major video game corporations like Activision, Disney, EA, Take 2, Insomniac, and WB Games.

As per the SAG-AFTRA announcement, 34,687 members voted in the latest ballot, representing around 27.47% of eligible members. SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher emphasized the need for video game companies to take these negotiations seriously.

In response, Audrey Cooling, the spokesperson representing video game producers negotiating the Interactive Media Agreement, expressed optimism that an agreement acknowledging SAG-AFTRA-represented performers' impactful contributions in video games will ultimately be reached.

To recap, the last industry-wide video game performer strike took place in 2016, becoming SAG-AFTRA's longest strike, ending nearly a year later with a ratified new contract in November 2017. The contract, expired in 2020, was extended first to 2022 and then to 2023. The last extension occurred a year ago, with SAG-AFTRA asserting that the companies involved have failed to meet "critical terms" needed by the members.

SAG-AFTRA's key concerns include protection against AI, raised wages equivalent to film and TV actors, a rest period, vocal stress protection, and necessary on-set medical staff. The possibility of a strike comes as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has just tentatively reached a deal with Hollywood studios, and SAG-AFTRA's film and TV performers continue to remain on strike since July.

As it stands, the video game members of the union might join them if union leadership officially calls for a strike.