Gaming Voice Actors About to Go on Strike

Looks like we got trouble brewin' on the horizon, ladies and gentlemen, trouble that could cause a big mess in this here industry: as it turns out, the folks at SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents video game voice actors, have been having a hard time negotiating new terms and contracts with some of the heavy hitters in the gaming industry. These negotiations, which started in February of 2015 and have continued to this day, have apparently hit on some high tensions, as a strike notice was just issued: unless things change soon, it seems a majority of video game voice actors will stop working come October 21st.
 

"Games have evolved to provide increasingly immersive and cinematic experiences that compete with television and theatrical motion pictures for consumer dollars. It is time for this now mature industry to pay and treat professional performers according to the standards and precedents that our union has established and defended for generations."

Things aren't doom and gloom yet: they're still going to try to work things out with the companies in question, but if nothing can be reached, the strike will be ordered. Hope, however, seems to be on short supply
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We head back to the table Oct. 17-19 with the goal of creating a fair contract that is rooted in industry standards and best practices. Based on past experience, we are not confident management is willing to make the changes necessary to bring this contract up to the standards of our other agreements.

They are quick to point out, however, that not all game companies will be affected by the strike... but specifically, they're targeting these clunky corporations

• Activision Publishing, Inc.
• Blindlight, LLC
• Corps of Discovery Films
• Disney Character Voices, Inc.
• Electronic Arts Productions, Inc.
• Formosa Interactive, LLC
• Insomniac Games, Inc.
• Interactive Associates, Inc.
• Take 2 Interactive Software
• VoiceWorks Productions, Inc.
• WB Games, Inc.

Nothing about this list surprises me. That's kind of sad.

It's worth noting that voice actors were considering a strike around this time last year as well (September, instead of October, but you get it), but nothing came from it. If this will be the same deal, it's hard to say, but based on what we learned in the strike notice, these negotiations have taken place since before this first, hypothetical strike, so... clearly things are going VERY poorly.

But Nintendo will still probably be fine.