GTA 6 won't be affected by the ongoing video game actor strike over protections against AI

GTA 6
(Image credit: Rockstar)

GTA 6 is unaffected by the newly called video game voice actors strike because it's been in production for more than a year.

Yesterday, it was announced by SAG-AFTRA that video game actors represented by the organization are set to strike against a number of developers and publishers to secure better protections against AI. The strike will commence today, July 26, and cover companies included in the Interactive Media Agreement, like Activision, EA, and Take-Two Productions.

However, a litany of in-development video games appear to be unaffected by the strike, including Take-Two's GTA 6. According to a SAG-AFTRA statement obtained by Kotaku reporter Ethan Gach, games that have been in production for a year or more, and live service games, won't be affected by the strike, and it's safe to say GTA 6 has been in development for a lot longer than that.

SAG-AFTRA specifically confirmed that GTA 6 is unaffected by the voice actor's strike, as reported by Gach on Twitter. Any SAG-AFTRA-associated voice actors that are currently working on Rockstar's game will be allowed to continue working as normal while the strike goes on.

"Due to certain provisions in the IMA [Interactive Media Agreement] contract, games that were in production at the time that the union provided the company its notice of termination are not currently subject to strike order. Most notices were sent in September 2022," SAG-AFTRA states, which explains the one-year development rule for in-production games.

"We served a separate notice relating to live service games, which we can strike in less than 60 days. We will update the membership if we expand the strike order to include those games closer to that time," the union continues. So live service titles are exempt from the strike, but that may not be the case if the strike runs for more than 60 days.

This is unconfirmed for now, but this could mean a number of big-time games on the horizon might also be exempt from the strike, including the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, and more.

Take a look at our new games 2024 guide for an overview of all the releases yet to come this year.

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Three playable characters stand in a triangle wearing suits and holding guns in GTA 5
GTA 5 is "the standard-bearer for the industry over three generations," but GTA 6 publisher's CEO isn't taking that for granted: "We don't claim success until it occurs"
A screenshot shows an OD actress screaming.
Hideo Kojima's Overdose hit a snag this year because "scanning and filming were suspended" due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes, but work on Death Stranding 2 continued as normal
A screenshot of protagonist Lucia from GTA 6
GTA 6 is "definitely gonna be a big economic boost for the games industry" that'll help "bring a lot more people back into the ecosystem," says Day of the Devs' lead curator
GTA 6
Take-Two boss is "not concerned" about falling console sales because major 2025 games like GTA 6 will help convince more people to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X
A screenshot of protagonist Lucia from GTA 6
GTA 6 still coming this fall, Take-Two boss says "there's always a risk of slippage" but "we feel really good" about a 2025 launch
Grand Taking Ages
GTA 6 parody previously pulled from PlayStation store now set to release on Steam after being updated "to emphasize its unique direction," dev wants Sony to reconsider
Latest in Open World
Mindseye
"There are so many games": Legendary dev behind GTA 3, GTA 4, GTA 5 and many more says the industry needs to "get smarter" about what players want
Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis System was only created because WB Games wanted something to combat Batman Arkham Asylum's second-hand sales, exec says
Infinity Nikki appearing in FGS Live from GDC
Infinity Nikki brings the spirit of carnival to it's charming open-world with its new update
Saints Row Review
Saber Interactive CEO says Saints Row had to die because the games were too expensive: "The days of throwing money at games other than the GTAs of the world is over"
Death Stranding 2 Collector's Edition Magellan Man
Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2's Collector's Edition 15-inch Magellan Man is part of his studio's "spirit and soul," so the crew went to China to make sure it's good enough
Horizon Forbidden West
As Sony trots out an AI-powered Aloy, Horizon Zero Dawn fans revel in the irony: "The entire game is a warning against this kind of nonsense"
Latest in News
Four Helldivers lined up on base ship
A year after Malevelon Creek became Helldivers 2's fiercest battleground, it looks like the Automatons are coming back for more
Kurt Russell in The Thing holding a stick of dynamite.
43 years later, John Carpenter has hinted at who turns into The Thing in the horror movie and one eagle-eyed fan has worked it out
Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows' controversies, shrine popularized by Ghost of Tsushima bans all tourists after "unforgivable act of disrespect"
A WoW Classic player chased by a dinosaur in a green forest
"If this is just how it is, then yeah, that's the end": WoW Classic's most famous hardcore guild calls time for now after multiple raiders lose their MMO characters to DDoS attacks
Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in Jennifer's Body
Star of cult hit Jennifer's Body says marketing "ruined" the horror movie's chances, but they may get another shot with a sequel 16 years later
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight: Silksong gets unprecedented second update in 2 weeks, with a Steam page tweak pointing to a 2025 release