In a significant development within the gaming industry, two voice actors for the game Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ) have discovered their replacement through the game's patch notes. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the video game industry over the use of generative AI to replicate voice actor performances.

ZZZ, developed by HoYoverse—the company behind Genshin Impact—is not directly impacted by the SAG-AFTRA strike, as it was in development before the strike's commencement on July 25, 2024. However, voice actors have the option to refrain from signing new contracts in solidarity with the striking union members or in the absence of a SAG Interim Agreement.

Emeri Chase, who voiced Soldier 11, expressed their situation on Bluesky (via Eurogamer), stating they were "replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protection, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry." Similarly, Nicholas Thurkettle, who voiced Lycaon and is not a union member, found himself replaced. Thurkettle emphasized the existential threat posed by AI in the industry and stood by his decision to seek protections, despite the personal professional cost.

Chase clarified the nuances between being 'struck' and not being on an Interim Agreement, noting that many actors are voluntarily withholding work on non-union or pre-strike union projects to support the union's fight for AI protections. Despite the risk of being replaced, Chase hoped HoYoverse would keep Soldier 11 silent until they could return, but learned of the recasting simultaneously with the public.

In a related incident from December, Activision confirmed the recasting of some characters in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Characters like William Peck and Samantha Maxis in the Zombies mode were voiced by new actors, with Zeke Alton expressing concerns over the lack of crediting, which could misrepresent his performance abilities to fans.

These developments underscore the broader impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike on the gaming industry. For a deeper understanding of how the strike affects gamers, refer to our feature, What the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Actors Strike Means for Gamers.