The UK's union for actors, Equity, has demanded that performers within the video games receive better working conditions. 

The organisation called for improved compensation, terms and conditions for actors working in the games industry at the BAFTA Games Awards earlier this week. Equity also pointed out that pay for workers had stagnated in the last decade while some large games companies have received huge sums of money in the form of tax breaks. 

“It is great to see the successes of the video games industry on show at the BAFTA Games Awards, and for the incredible achievements of its workforce to be celebrated across the categories – from performers, to designers, developers and more,” Equity's assistant general secretary for recorded media, John Barclay, said. 

“But Equity is here to make sure the poor practice frequently reported by Equity members does not continue to be ignored by industry leaders. The video games industry is worth over £7bn in the UK alone and in attendance tonight are bosses from some of the richest companies in the world. Yet these companies continue to ignore Equity’s calls to work with us to introduce union-negotiated agreements in the UK that would improve pay, terms and conditions for our members – something that is normal practice in the US.

“Pay for video game performers in the UK has stagnated despite games companies receiving almost £200m in tax breaks; performers do not have proper protections from artificial intelligence or NDA misuse; and they need safer workplaces so they don’t injure their vocals or bodies, or experience improper recordings of intimate scenes. In an industry that generates enormous wealth, Equity members deserve better.”