Games that began development before September 2023 are not impacted by the SAG-AFTRA strike

SAG-AFTRA has indicated that Grand Theft Auto 6 has been excluded from the current video game strike, owing to an earlier agreement.

According to Kotaku, projects that began before September 2023, as well as those that are live-service, are not affected by the strike.

Ray Rodriguez, SAG-AFTRA's chief contracts officer, expressed displeasure over this to Aftermath, stating that the clause originated from an old interactive media agreement predating the union merger. "We inherited this language, which I find unreasonable. Nonetheless, it exists."

Rodriguez added that the union is poised to contest the exemption of specific titles to defend its members' interests.

"We believe there are certain titles we can dispute, and are gearing up to challenge the application of this clause," he noted. "We are striving to conduct the strike as efficiently and powerfully as possible, despite this clause."

SAG-AFTRA has urged members engaged with non-struck games or firms to practice solidarity by not crossing picket lines, reminding that employers are "contractually barred from penalizing them for this decision."

The union also advised those on day-rate contracts to avoid signing new agreements with non-struck games amid the strike.

Last week, SAG-AFTRA initiated a video game strike aiming to safeguard voice and performance actors from risks posed by generative AI and to enhance job security.