SAG-AFTRA Calls for Strike Against League of Legends

Riot Games released a statement on social media saying: “League of Legends has nothing to do with the complaint referenced in SAG-AFTRA’s press release.” The developer noted that it had instructed Formosa Interactive to use only union talent on the game and that it had never allowed Formosa to cancel a game it had registered with them. Additionally, in an email to The VergeRiot spokesman Joe Hixson clarified that neither the upcoming global tournament nor Esoteric Season 2 will be affected by the strike because these are not projects governed by the Interactive Media Agreement.

Formosa Interactive is a support studio that offers assistance to other game developers in a variety of disciplines, including art, production, sound design, voice acting, and more. According to SAG-AFTRA, the studio attempted to cancel one of its games after the strike began in July. When that attempt failed, SAG-AFTRA claims Formosa then secretly transferred the game to what the union described as a shell company and then put out casting calls exclusively for non-union talent.

In response, SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Formosa Interactive and added the studio’s highest-profile game — League of Legends — to the union’s list of cancelled matches.

“Committing illegal and unfair labor practices is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by SAG-AFTRA members,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator. “Formosa will be held accountable, starting with an immediate strike.” League of Legends.”

The players’ strike began on July 26 after SAG-AFTRA and a negotiating committee of video game publishers — of which Formosa Interactive is a member — failed to reach an agreement on a new interactive media contract. According to SAG-AFTRA, the negotiating committee refused to extend AI protections to voice and motion artists, while publishers argued that the terms they offered were fair.

The Verge contacted Formosa Interactive for comment.

Update September 24: Added statement from Riot Games.