Master Chief VA, Steve Downes, Asks ‘Halo’ Fans to Support Voice Actors Strike Against AI Misuse
Halo has been around since 2001. The popular FPS franchise is one of the most popular gaming brands of all time and also one of the most successful ones. The game is mostly an FPS title, but spin-off titles have explored other genres as well.
The most recent Halo game was released back in 2021, Halo Infinite, and the franchise has since been adapted into a popular TV series as well. And while there are no confirmed plans related to a future, the community is still very much alive.
The latter fact is something that Steve Downes, the voice behind Master Chief, is well aware of and in a recent talk with the press, he asked the fans for their support.
You probably remember the giant SAG-AFTRA strike that almost paralyzed Hollywood back in 2023? Yeah, well, since 2024 – ten months now – the voice acting community within the SAG-AFTRA has also been on strike, and it doesn’t seem like the situation is going to calm down soon.
The voice actors and motion capture artists are on strike, mostly due to issues related to artificial intelligence, similarly to the original SAG-AFTRA strike from 2023. And while that strike resulted in a solid deal, in this case, a deal is not in sight.
In light of that, VA legend Steve Downes, talked to the press, and he actually asked the Halo community to stand behind him and his colleagues, as you can see:
To be frank, this is a no-brainer really. The VA and MC community is absolutely right and we firmly stand behind their demands. The use of AI should be limited and artists should have the right to control how their creative output, regardless of the form (in this case, their vocal and physical performances), is used.
This is why we hope that a deal will be struck soon!
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