League of Legends Added to SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike

SAG-AFTRA has added one of the most popular video games in the world, Riot’s League of Legends, to its ongoing strike amid accusations that the post-production studio that handles its voice acting is trying to hire non-union actors for a separate title.

In a statement released on its website Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA accused Formosa Interactive, a signatory to the guild’s Interactive Media Agreement and the company that provides voiceover services to Riot Games, of committing a “flagrant violation of labor law” that has led to the guild filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board.

SAG-AFTRA claims that Formosa tried to cancel one of its current video games in development shortly after the start of the guild’s strike in July, and after being told that was not possible, transferred the game to a shell company that put out casting notices for non-union talent only.

“SAG-AFTRA charges that these serious actions are egregious violations of core tenets of labor law – that employers cannot interfere with performers’ rights to form or join a union and they cannot discriminate against union performers. The unilateral and surreptitious transfer of union work to a ‘non-union’ shell company is an impermissible and appalling attempt to evade a strike action and destroy performers’ rights under labor law,” the statement reads.

TheWrap has reached out to Formosa for comment. The company also provides voice services for several of the most popular titles in gaming, including EA Sports’ “Madden NFL” series, Sony’s “God of War” and Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us.”

As a game released in 2009 and which provides continued voice work for actors through new promotional and in-game content, League of Legends was not on SAG-AFTRA’s list of struck games. Its addition to that list comes as the game is about to get renewed attention among fans this week with the start of its annual World Championships, one of the most watched esports tournaments in the world.

“League of Legends is a game of champions. Instead of championing the union performers who bring their immense talent and experience to beloved characters, decision-makers at Formosa have chosen to try to evade and abandon them,” said Sarah Elmaleh, chair of SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee for the Interactive Media Agreement.

“Such double-dealing is very disappointing from a longtime committed union signatory. And such regrettable choices are unnecessary when our union committee and staff are as collaborative and excited to create protected work as our performers love to collaborate with game makers and love this work,” she continued.

While last year’s film and TV strike had multiple contract issues that needed to be resolved in order for it to end, SAG-AFTRA called this video game strike around a single issue: terms on consent and compensation protections around artificial intelligence for actors and motion capture performers.

While SAG-AFTRA and the agreement signatories have come to terms on all other contract issues, the guild says that the companies’ offer on AI protections would only cover guild members playing roles with a likeness that resembles them, leaving the vast majority of roles unprotected. The guild has created an interim agreement to allow video game developers to employ union voice actors if they agree to stronger AI protections.

“It’s bad enough that Formosa and other companies are refusing to agree to the fair AI terms that have been agreed to by the film, television, streaming and music industries, as well as more than 90 other game developers,” said national executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “To commit illegal unfair labor practices is beyond the pale and won’t be tolerated by SAG-AFTRA members. Formosa will be held accountable, starting with an immediate strike of League of Legends.”

The post League of Legends Added to SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike appeared first on TheWrap.