Metal Gear Solid voice actor David Hayter
The Metal Gear Solid Voice Actor and writer, David Hayter, has raised awareness for ongoing Strike Action taking place in Hollywood. Actor and writer Hayter, known for his work in the Metal Gear Solid series and other games such as the original Devil May Cry and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, talks about the strikes and the concerns of voice actors. He also comments on the potential use of AI to replace human performances in the future.
“Voice actors in the gaming industry also have concerns about being replaced by AI,” Hayter says in the video. “They’re afraid that their technology is going to be advanced enough that it’s going to be able to do what they do, and they’re going to lose their jobs.”
Hayter goes on to say that while AI may be able to replicate a human performance, it won’t be able to replicate a human performance that has “soul.” He believes that this will protect actors in the gaming industry, because the technology isn’t at a level where it can replicate genuine emotion and response.
“I’m strongly against any technology replicating an artist’s face or voice without their consent,” Hayter adds. “There’s a lot of voice-over, animation, anime actors who are treated very poorly, and their only protection is to become part of a Union. And the people who are striking right now are primarily actors working in animation and voice-over, and animation, but they’re also working in anime.
“But the people who are primarily working in anime and gaming, those people aren’t striking,” Hayter continues. “But they support the strikes because they know if they get the protections they need, they’ll help the benefits that they have. But the most vulnerable people, who are less likely to be in a Union, are the ones that are going to need that support in the future.”
Hayter then goes on to discuss the potential for studios to replace actors with AI, in order to cut costs and speed up production. Some studios are already trying this, and they will continue to do so until they are deterred. The hope is that they will be deterred by the strike and find ways to treat entertainment workers better instead.
It’s unclear if gaming actors will join the strike, but Hayter’s comments about the current state of AI and how it can’t yet replicate genuine emotions and responses will hopefully protect them for now.
Check out the full video below:
If you’re interested in joining a Union yourself, be sure to check out our guide to unions in video games. We also have a guide on what unions are and what they do, as well as a list of all the major unions in games.
