Actors call for action against “disgusting” sex scenes in video games

Actors working in the gaming industry have spoken out about how distressing it is to be asked, without notice, to take part in explicit content, including a scene involving sexual assault.

Sex scenes are common in modern games and are often shot by filming human actors who are then digitally processed into game characters.

But the cast have told the BBC that there is a culture of secrecy surrounding the projects – scripts are often only shared at the last minute – meaning they often do not know in advance that scenes might involve intimate acts.

They describe feeling “shaken” and “angry” after living out these experiences.

The union Equity is demanding action from the industry – it has published Guides on minimum wages and working conditions in the games industryeven in intimate or explicit scenes.

Jessica Jefferies is a professional casting director who primarily works in the video game industry and enjoys the medium.

Previously, she worked as a motion capture performer – part of a small group that regularly worked for studios used by game developers.

Dressed in a skin-tight, full-body suit covered in markers, motion capture actors recreate the movements of game characters on a large, unfurnished set, with their movements digitally recorded.

She said developers often left actors in the dark about the nature of the game or scene.

“We would get an email or a call from a studio telling us we needed them for a shoot on those days,” she said.

“That was all the information we received.”

Ms Jefferies told the BBC that she was once asked, without warning, to re-enact a sexual assault scene with a male actor.

“When I showed up, I was told I would be filming an explicit rape scene,” she said.

“This action can be observed through a window for as long or as short as the player wants, and then the player can shoot that character in the head.

“In my opinion, it was just completely groundless.”

She refused to re-enact the “disgusting” scene – which was even worse since she was the only woman on set.

“It's not about nudity, but it's still an act, and that act is intimate, and there's violence in that situation,” she said.

“Yes, there may be a layer of Lycra between us, but you're still here and you still have to really immerse yourself in this scene.”

In the end, their concerns were listened to and the scene was not recorded.

But it reinforces her belief that actors should be informed about explicit scenes in advance so that they don't “cause a fuss” on set or feel pressured to do something they're uncomfortable with.

Jessica was consulted by Equity in developing their policies, which require:

• A summary of the story, a scene layout and a script should be distributed to all actors in advance.
• Artists should have the opportunity to request a closed set where access is kept to a minimum.
• A competent intimacy coordinator should be hired.

She argues that more information would help actors perform better and says that “there is a desire for change.”

Ms Jefferies stresses that the guidelines are not intended to put limits on storytelling. There have also been big improvements in the ten years since that incident, she says – and “these guidelines are just intended to bring them even more in line with best practice in the film and television industry”.

She says that the studios she works with now are generally very open to learning about best practices and that they believe that treating people well leads to better performance.

A voice actress and Equity member who supports the guidelines, speaking on condition of anonymity, also told the BBC about the problems she had encountered.

She “loves the industry with all her heart,” but believes the limited information provided to actors before a performance needs to change.

“We have to sign confidentiality agreements [non-disclosure agreements]We are told almost nothing,” she said.

During a recording for an important game, she only found out that this was explicit when she showed up for work.

“It was actually a real sex scene,” she said.

“I had to [vocally] Adjust the scene and through the glass in the cabin I saw the whole team, all men, watching me.

“It was horrific… I had been in the gaming industry for a while at that point and I had never felt so shaken.”

She compared the experience to being unexpectedly asked to appear on a paid phone sex hotline.

“What made me so upset about the situation was the fact that I was embarrassed and no one thought to ask me if I was OK with it. And no one asked me afterwards if I was OK,” she said.

And as a freelancer, she was afraid that refusing to do something would result in her being branded a troublemaker.

“Nobody has to justify why they won’t hire you,” she said.

Like Ms. Jefferies, she wants games to be closer to the standards of film and television.

Rhiannon Bevan from gaming news site The Gamer has completed the steps Last year's gaming blockbuster Baldur's Gate 3 was an example of how a modern game gets it “right” when it comes to dealing with explicit scenes.

She says that explicit scenes in games are increasingly being taken seriously “and not just used for arousal.”

However, there is a risk that the actors may not feel comfortable with the work.

Baldur's Gate 3 addressed this issue by introducing intimacy coordinators – dedicated staff members tasked with ensuring the well-being of actors in explicit scenes.

The developer assigned an intimacy coordinator to oversee the actors who voiced intimate scenes, while another took care of those who also acted out actions that would be digitized into the game.

In addition to intimate scenes, Equity's guidelines also cover the excessive use of non-disclosure agreements, security in motion and performance capture, avoiding harmful vocal exposure to artists, and protections related to the use of artificial intelligence.

The use of AI is one of the core topics an ongoing strike by game artists in the USA.

UKIE, the video game industry trade body, did not comment directly on the treatment of performers working on explicit material, but said of Equity's policies that its focus “remains on creating a supportive environment for all those involved in the UK video game sector and ensuring it remains the best place to make, play and sell video games”.