Take-Two Boss "Pretty Confident" Video Game Strike Will End, Expects No Short-Term Impact

As a seasoned gamer with decades of immersive experiences under my belt, I find myself standing on the precipice of gaming history, witnessing the unfolding drama between video game actors and the industry titans. Having navigated countless virtual worlds, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of kinship with these talented individuals who bring our favorite characters to life.


Actors involved in video games who belong to the SAG-AFTRA union are at present on strike due to various issues, including the use of artificial intelligence. The CEO of one of the companies affected by this strike, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., Strauss Zelnick, has expressed optimism that both parties can reach a resolution. He stated recently that he is “quite optimistic” about a potential agreement being reached.

During Take-Two’s latest financial discussion, Zelnick expressed that our professional connections with skilled individuals are highly important to us, and in the past, we’ve had great success working with all unions, including SAG-AFTRA. At present, we’re putting forth significant effort to find a solution for this ongoing issue. Notably, we share agreement on 24 out of 25 proposals, which makes me quite optimistic that we can negotiate a deal that will be advantageous for both parties.

In his statement, Zelnick noted that Take-Two doesn’t anticipate any influence at all on their ongoing game developments. However, if the strike persists for an extended period, it could potentially impact not only Take-Two but also other firms, as he pointed out.

Zelnick expressed a guarded hope that they can reach a consensus, which is what they aim for. He also clarified that the ongoing strike doesn’t provide any financial advantages for Take-Two.

The strike only applies to video games that started development after September 2023, which means GTA VI won’t be impacted. Additionally, games that are currently in service and have already been launched are not included in the strike.

Apart from Take-Two, Electronic Arts (EA) isn’t expressing concern over the ongoing video game strike either. In fact, EA’s CEO, Andrew Wilson, has been actively involved in negotiations and is optimistic that a resolution will be reached soon.

As a seasoned game developer with years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that we don’t anticipate any immediate interruptions to our ongoing projects or live services. We understand the importance of maintaining a consistent and high-quality gaming experience for our players, and we take pride in our ability to deliver on that promise. Based on our past performance and current plans, I am optimistic that we will continue to meet our deadlines without any significant setbacks.

Last September, video game voice actors decided to go on strike, but didn’t actually start taking action until July 26. This was because the SAG-AFTRA union and video game companies couldn’t reach an agreement before then. The union has expressed concern about AI technology, wanting to establish fair safeguards for voice actors to protect them from its impact.

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2024-08-09 17:39