SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor practices allegation against Llama Productions LLC on May 19, 2025. Llama Productions LLC is a subsidiary of Epic Games, the video game software company that distributes Fortnite. The union’s complaint against Llama Productions followed the release of a Star Wars-themed season to Fortnite that added Darth Vader as a boss that can communicate with players thanks to AI. SAG-AFTRA’s labor practices complaint takes issue with the video game company’s usage of AI to mimic the voice of James Earl Jones.
According to the complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board, Llama Productions LLC “failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite.”
What is SAG-AFTRA Alleging?
The National Labor Relations Act (“Act”), passed in 1935, guarantees employees the right to self-organize and to collectively bargain with their employers. SAG-AFTRA’s complaint relies upon Section 8(a)(5) of the Act, which outlines unfair labor practices. Section 8(a)(5) defines an employer’s failure to collectively bargain with the representatives of an employee as an unfair labor practice. SAG-AFTRA is alleging that Epic Games’ failure to consult with the union prior to deciding to use AI to voice Darth Vader constitutes a failure in collective bargaining and is therefore breach of the NLRA.
Epic Games and Disney – which acquired Lucasfilm and the Star Wars series in 2012 – did receive the consent of James Earl Jones’ family members prior to using AI to copy his voice. Prior to his death, Jones also signed off on allowing archival voice recordings to be used in future projects by Lucasfilm. The complaint by SAG-AFTRA arose solely from Epic Games’ failure to consult with the union on the game developer’s intent to use AI and on the terms of such AI usage.
SAG-AFTRA’s Complaint Brought Amongst General AI Usage in Gaming Controversy
SAG-AFTRA filed its complaint against Llama Productions LLC just under one year after the union announced its ongoing strike against video game companies on July 16, 2024. Llama Productions LLC is one of the video game companies included in the union’s work stoppage order. SAG-AFTRA called for the strike following eighteen months of failed bargaining over the union’s collective bargaining agreements with video game developers. The key topic at issue in the strike is AI. SAG-AFTRA’s proposed adjustments to the collective bargaining agreements include AI protections for members. On June 12, 2025, the SAG-AFTRA National Board approved a tentative agreement with the video game companies involved in the strike. The agreement is currently up for vote with SAG-AFTRA’s membership.
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Contributions to this blog by Beau van der Meulen.