Equity has set recommended minimum rates for the payment of video game performers for the first time.
The publication of recommended minimum rates is intended to address systemic low pay for performers working in video games in the UK, where pay has stagnated and not kept up with the rate of inflation. Crucially, it is significantly lower than in the United States and Canada, despite Equity members being engaged by the same global companies.
The recommended minimum rates are being launched as part of Equity’s Game On! campaign (#EquityGameOn) to fight for better pay, terms and conditions for UK performers working video games. It comes as Equity stands in solidarity with our sister union, SAG-AFTRA, who are on strike against major video game companies in the US.
Many of the issues experienced by SAG-AFTRA members are shared by Equity members, such as the threat of artificial intelligence. However, unlike in the US, there is no collectively bargained agreement in the UK with video games companies to set union-agreed minimum rates and pay performers fairly.
This is despite the UK video games industry being worth almost £8bn and in receipt of government tax breaks worth almost £200m in 2022. The lack of collective agreements in this space also stands in stark contrast to Film and TV where union bargaining is the norm. Over 90% of British Film and TV drama are made on an Equity agreement. The union also has agreements with the major streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple+ and Paramount. These are huge global companies who understand that it is in their best interest to work with Equity.
Recommended minimum rates
The recommended minimum rates are intended for use on AAA games – games that are created and released typically by mid-size or major publishers; usually anything that cannot be classified as ‘indie’. Recommended rates had not been set by Equity in the past due to prior legislation that prevented the union from publishing them where there is no collectively bargained agreement.
As minimum fees, the rates are negotiable between a performer (or their agent) and the engager. They include minimum fees for voiceover per hour, motion and performance capture per day, promotion work per hour, overtime per 30 mins past wrap time, and more. Equity encourages AAA, indie and low budget productions to contact the union to discuss these rates and other contractual arrangements.
Resources
The rates are being published alongside Best Practice for Video Game Companies and Working as a Video Game Performer guides, comprising a suite of resources to facilitate both video game companies and performers to improve working conditions in the industry.
The guides aim to combat common issues for performers working in video games. These include:
- The overuse of NDAs
- Safety during motion and performance capture
- Avoiding harmful vocal stress
- Lack of notice for explicit/intimate scenes and the need for closed sets during recording
- Artificial intelligence
The rates and resources were created by Equity’s Video Game Working Party, made up of Equity members and external consultants – David Menkin, Jessica Jefferies CDG/CDA, Laurence Bouvard, Rebecca Yeo, and Alan Turkington – who say:
“After 18 months of hard work, Equity’s Video Game Working Party is proud to launch these recommended minimum rates and best practice guidelines for Video Games; the first of its kind in this area. This is an unprecedented step in the right direction for performers in the games industry, where the union has previously been held back by restrictive legislation and unable to publish such guidelines.
“Our goal is to ensure fair pay and good working conditions for the performers who have trained for years to develop the skills they use to bring video games to life. We urge Equity members to demand these minimum standards and we invite studios and developers to work with us on collective agreements that protect everyone and will ensure the games industry in the UK continues to thrive.”
Shannon Sailing, Equity’s Industrial Official for Audio & Video Games, says: “Equity are proudly publishing these recommended minimum rates of pay, along with best practice guidelines for performers working in video games. The strength of feeling from union members to improve the current state of play in games is palpable.
"An industry valued at £7.82bn and that is in receipt of tax relief must recognise the value that its workforce brings to the games industry. Our members are no longer going to sit back and accept low rates of pay, unsafe working environments and poor terms and conditions.
"We are encouraging our members to know their value, and demand change now to ensure that the UK games industry continues to be recognised in the global games market.”
Equity members can also join the union’s Video Games Network to take part in the Game On! campaign and organise for better pay, terms and conditions in the industry.
