Entertainment labor unions SAG-AFTRA and IATSE continue to push for protections against artificial intelligence and fair treatment of creatives within the video game industry.
The 2025 Game Developers Conference took place in San Francisco, California, from March 17–21. Among those in attendance were the two entertainment unions, SAG-AFTRA and IATSE. Representatives from SAG-AFTRA included Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Chair Sarah Elmaleh and committee vice chair Zeke Alton, National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and union staff, and from IATSE, International President Matthew D. Loeb, and International Representatives Chrissy Fellmeth and Maggie Kraisamutr.
In addition to participating in conference-related events, the two unions and their representatives also hosted panels and happenings outside of the GDC’s itinerary.
On March 19, Crabtree-Ireland sat with Frankfurt Kurnit Associate, Interactive Entertainment Group Emma Smizer for the How to Play the Game: Legal Developments in Games panel at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. During their discussion, he spoke at length about the Interactive Media Agreement, including its offerings to game developers and its protections against exploitative practices, specifically those stemming from the misuse of generative artificial intelligence models. The two also conversed about how the contract stands to expand the definition of video game performers to include motion capture artists and the union’s continued strike efforts.
Later that day, Alton sat on the IATSE Workers Panel, hosted by IATSE Local 16. In addition to Alton, Fellmeth and Kraisumutr, 2K Games’ Calvin Walanus and storyboard artist Marissa Bernstel were also panelists. Their conversation centered on the importance of video game performers within the entertainment industry with Alton sharing his professional experiences as a SAG-AFTRA member.
On March 20, SAG-AFTRA and IATSE co-hosted the IRL Mixer 2 networking event at Spin San Francisco. The event was attended by San Francisco-Northern California Local members and other professionals within the video game industry.
The Game Developers Conference is the game industry’s premier professional event, championing game developers and the advancement of their craft. In addition to exhibitions, panels and two award ceremonies, the Game Developers Choice Awards and Independent Games Festival, the GDC’s programming brings the game development community together to exchange ideas, solve problems and shape the future of the industry.
Photo: SAG-AFTRA and IATSE host the IRL Mixer 2 networking event at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on March 20, 2025.
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Frankfurt Kurnit Associate, Interactive Entertainment Group Emma Smizer at the “How to Play the Game: Legal Developments in Games” panel during the Game Developers Conference on March 19, 2025, in San Francisco.
From left, IATSE International Representatives Chrissy Fellmeth, storyboard artist Marissa Bernstel, IATSE International Representative Maggie Kraisamutr, SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee member Zeke Alton and IATSE Director of Communications Jonas Loeb at the IATSE Workers Panel on March 19, 2025.
From left, IATSE International Representative Maggie Kraisamutr, International President Matthew D. Loeb and International Representative Chrissy Fellmeth and organizer Ben Speight at the IRL Mixer 2 on March 20, 2025.
The IRL Mixer 2 brought together GDC attendees with local SAG-AFTRA members.
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