All articles tagged with #crunch culture
Larian Studios' CEO Swen Vincke revealed that the development of Baldur's Gate 3 required less crunch compared to their previous games, thanks to their global studio structure. While some overtime was necessary, it was minimal and employees were compensated, with weekend work being very rare.
Larian Studios' CEO Swen Vincke admitted that the team had to engage in some crunch while developing Baldur's Gate 3, though it was minimal and rarely required weekend work. He emphasized that overtime was compensated and that the studio's crunch was less severe compared to past projects. Additionally, Larian announced delays for the physical PS5 deluxe editions in North America and confirmed that their next game will not be related to Baldur's Gate or Dungeons and Dragons.
Baldur's Gate 3 experienced less crunch compared to Larian Studios' previous games, though some overtime was inevitable due to unforeseen challenges. Director Swen Vincke highlighted efforts to mitigate crunch, including global studio support and paid overtime, ensuring minimal late-night and weekend work.
Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer believes that burnout has replaced crunch as the primary hazard in the games industry, with managers setting teams up to fail and developers suffering as collateral damage. He emphasizes the need for change and support among developers, echoing sentiments from others in the industry who have spoken out against stressful working conditions and layoffs.
Naughty Dog, the studio behind The Last of Us Part 2, has acknowledged its reputation for crunch culture and pledged to eliminate it. The studio released a documentary discussing the impact of crunch on its employees and outlined steps taken to address the issue, including defining crunch internally, educating new hires, removing "crunch dinners," and implementing regular questionnaires. While the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen, the studio aims to release upcoming projects without subjecting its employees to crunch, with one developer claiming that the remake of The Last of Us Part 1 was made without crunch.
Over 100 artists reportedly quit working on Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse due to overwork and burnout caused by a crunch culture atmosphere at Sony Pictures Animation. The delays allegedly later forced the artists to work 11 hour days for seven days a week in order to make up the lost time. The allegations have raised concerns about the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and whether the movie can be completed in time for its March 29, 2024 release date. Similar practices have been reported at DC Studios regarding The Flash movie.
Developers at Ubisoft Paris, the studio behind Just Dance 2023, have allegedly suffered from crunch culture, demanding management, and disputes with Ubisoft headquarters. Anonymous sources claim that the team was tasked with changing the game's engine just 11 months before launch, and bosses pushed ideas "that had to be considered at all costs" despite the team being "already underwater." Developers also alleged that paid overtime became commonplace, and a double standard was established. Ubisoft declined to comment on the claims.