The Hollywood performers union has called a strike against one of the video game industry's most popular games.
On Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA announced it was asking its members to stop working on multiplayer online games. League of Legends Its maker, Formosa Interactive, “tried to sabotage” the union’s ongoing video game strike on an unnamed separate title. The union is responding by calling for a work stoppage League of LegendsA game that had not been made before and is one of Formosa Interactive's most famous projects (the brand has also worked on god of war And Madden NFL 24,
Formosa Interactive, a branch of postproduction audio company Formosa Group, provides voiceover work League of LegendsAccording to the union.
The union has accused Formosa Interactive, one of the union's signatories and bargaining group members currently in a dispute with the union over a new interactive media agreement, of telling the union it wanted to cancel one of its titles affected by the union's ongoing video game strike. When the union protested against that request, it said the company then attempted to circumvent the labor group by attempting to hire non-union artists through a shell company for the same game.
The union filed an unfair labor practice case against the company with the National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday. “SAG-AFTRA alleges that these serious actions are serious violations of basic principles of labor law — employers may not interfere with performers' rights to form or join a union, and they may not discriminate against union performers,” the union said Tuesday.
“It’s bad enough that Formosa and other companies are refusing to agree to fair AI terms agreed to by the film, television, streaming, and music industries, as well as more than 90 other game developers,” SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said in a statement. “Engaging in unlawful unfair labor practices is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by SAG-AFTRA members. Formosa will be held accountable, starting with an immediate strike.” League of Legends,
In a statement, Formosa Group said, “We strongly reject SAG-AFTRA's allegations and have in no way acted to undermine employee or union rights or harm our relationship with the union.” The company added, “We believe a strike would harm employee interests.” League of LegendsA game that does not comply with the union's claims is not fair. We stand with developers, publishers, platform holders and talent to support global game development that is safe and ethical for everyone.”
League of Legends Publisher Riot Games distanced itself from SAG-AFTRA's allegations in a statement, saying it had “nothing to do with the complaint.” The company added, “We want to be clear: since the union project was created five years ago, League of Legends He only told Formosa to join with union artists in the US and never suggested doing anything else.”
SAG-AFTRA's ongoing video game strike began on July 26 after nearly two years of negotiations with top producers failed to reach a new deal. SAG-AFTRA performers are withholding their labor from employers including Disney Character Voices, Activision Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros. Games, and Insomniac Games, as the two sides remain at odds over contract language related to the use of AI in video game performances.
During the work stoppage, the union is encouraging companies to sign either its interim agreement or a tiered-budget agreement containing AI contract language that the union supports. On Sept. 4, the union said 80 games had signed agreements, including Lightspeed L.A.'s last sentinel and Studio Wildcard ARK: Survival Evolved,
Sep 24, 1:28 pm Updated with Riot Games statement.
Sep 24, 6:54 pm Updated with statement from Formosa Group.