The upcoming Mega Man: Dual Override has become the center of a growing labor dispute after the union SAG-AFTRA issued a “Do Not Work” order for the game’s English-language voice production. In a statement dated March 9, the union said Capcom “has failed to initiate the signatory process,” and instructed members to “withhold any acting services or performance of any covered work for this production until further notice.”
Screenshot of Mega Man: Duel Override reveal trailer – Capcom USA, YouTube
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According to Rockman Corner, the order does not halt development of Mega Man: Dual Override, which remains scheduled for release in 2027. However, the directive applies specifically to English-language voice work and could significantly affect casting for the game’s English voice track.
Ben Diskin, who voiced Mega Man in 2018’s Mega Man 11, has already exited the project. In a social media post, he wrote: “With a broken Blue Bomber heart, I am no longer the voice of Mega Man.”
Union Contracts
SAG-AFTRA warned its members that accepting employment or rendering services on Mega Man: Dual Override could result in disciplinary action. Doing so would violate Rule One, which prohibits union members from working on non-union productions that have not completed the required signatory process. According to SAG-AFTRA, the union provides contractual protection in matters of pay standards, working conditions, and performer protections.
In a statement posted on Bluesky, Diskin discussed his reasons for leaving the project. “I was asked to return for Mega Man: Dual Override, but only on the condition I work without the protections of a union contract.” He continued, “I was told there are ‘full AI protections in place that guarantee in writing that [my] voice will never be used for AI development’ but was also told ‘with certainty, from [Capcom], that the project will not go union.'”
Screenshot of Mega Man: Duel Override reveal trailer – Capcom USA, YouTube
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PC Gamer notes that while Diskin is not the only performer to have voiced Mega Man, Mega Man 11 was the best-selling game in the series. His decision not to return for the next entry highlights the growing tensions between video game studios and voice performers.
Tensions Over AI
Videogame voice actors resolved a nearly year-long strike in July 2025. A major factor in negotiations was the creation of AI protections for performers. At the time, SAG-AFTRA said in a statement that the new contract created guardrails around use of the new technology, which included “consent and disclosure requirements for AI digital replica use and the ability for performers to suspend consent for the generation of new AI material during a strike.”
Screenshot of Mega Man: Duel Override reveal trailer – Capcom USA, YouTube
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The use of AI was a factor in Diskin’s decision to exit Mega Man: Dual Override.
“In my heart, I want to believe Capcom would never use AI… But in my HEAD, I’m aware that basically every major corporation is looking to incorporate generative AI to save money,” Diskin wrote. “The video game industry is facing record layoffs and huge amounts of uncertainty. I need a union contract to feel safe.”
Current and Future Challenges
While the “Do Not Work” order from SAG-AFTRA and Diskin’s exit may provide challenges for Capcom, the publisher is still moving forward. If the project remains non-union, it may rely on non-union actors for key roles. How the project moves forward may ultimately shape how studios and performers navigate union protections, AI safeguards, and voice talent contracts in future game productions.
What do you think of Capcom’s decision to not sign with SAF-AFTRA? Are you looking forward to Mega Man: Dual Override? Let us know in the comments!
