SAG-AFTRA introduces a new video game agreement allowing developers to employ professional actors for demos and vertical slices

Pre-Funding Pitch Agreement

Image credit: SAG-AFTRA

A new agreement has been introduced by SAG-AFTRA for video game developers, allowing the use of professional actors in early development phases through a pre-funding pitch model.

The Pre-Funding Pitch Interactive Media Agreement accommodates creators developing demos, teasers, and early prototypes.

The terms state that qualifying projects must not have secured over 30% of their initial funding, nor should they seem fully developed. Projects funded by crowdfunding or available to the public in any form are excluded from eligibility.

There is a provision for developers whose projects meet only some criteria; they can "seek a waiver from the union" under certain circumstances.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA’s national executive director and CEO, expressed that the initiative facilitates hiring experienced union actors, potentially giving developers a competitive advantage.

Echoing these sentiments, SAG-AFTRA president Sean Astin highlighted that the agreement can elevate a project’s quality and marketability by integrating skilled voice and motion actors sooner in the development cycle.

Previously, SAG-AFTRA unveiled agreements enabling their members to engage with academic and game jam activities amid industrial disputes.

Between 2024 and 2025, SAG-AFTRA engaged in an 11-month strike due to unresolved issues including remuneration, AI regulation, and safety concerns with various publishers and developers.

Following the strike, the union launched the Interactive Media Agreement, introducing pay enhancements, health and retirement benefits, and AI safety measures.