The video game companies negotiating with SAG-AFTRA have presented the union with what Variety reports is a final offer to end the ongoing strike seeking a deal for voice actors in the burgeoning artificial intelligence era. The story includes a copy of the offer, and despite this being called "last and best," it also has a counteroffer from the union. On one hand it appears the two sides are close, with tentative agreements on 24 of 25 proposals. On the other hand, the outstanding issue remains how to handle generative AI, which has been a sticking point all along. "We are hopeful the union will not choose to walk away when we are so close to a deal," Audrey Cooling, spokesperson for the video game companies tells Variety. "Our proposal includes wage increases of over 24% for SAG-AFTRA-represented performers in video games, enhanced health and safety protections, industry-leading terms of use for AI digital replicas in-game and additional compensation for the use of an actor’s performance in other games. This is our last and best offer, and we hope the union will return to the table so we can reach a deal." Here's the response from the union:

“SAG-AFTRA condemns the video game companies’ attempt to sow confusion in the community by releasing misleading rhetoric about our ongoing negotiations. The statement suggesting that the union would “walk away” from negotiations on this contract is absurd and the opposite of the truth. It is the employers who have threatened – through backchannel representatives – to move work to foreign countries and recast performers, in an unsuccessful effort to intimidate our negotiating committee and membership to capitulate to their demands.

It is the employers who have characterized their last counter as “their last and best offer,” the union has taken no such step. To the contrary, SAG-AFTRA responded to that offer within 72 hours – on May 2 – with our own response to the open issues relating to artificial intelligence. We have to date received no response to our counter offer of May 2.

SAG-AFTRA is holding an informational meeting on Wednesday, May 7 for members who work under the Interactive Media Agreement. We expect to review the employers’ and union’s latest offers and hear their feedback in that confidential setting. Members can register at sagaftra.org/videogamestrike.