Crunch Culture
Ongoing coverage on Crunch Culture.
Latest coverage
Wardogs CEO goes on the defensive after speaking in favor of crunch in an interview
Joe Brammer, CEO of Bulkhead, the developer of the early access FPS Wardogs, has defended the practice of crunch in game development. In an interview, Brammer expressed support for crunch, stating that the final months of development were more important than developers' family lives and that the studio screens potential hires for anti-crunch rhetoric. He also mentioned that developers receive 'life-changing' compensation and that the studio utilized four-day work weeks and gave employees December off.
"I expect people to crunch," says Wardogs boss, so his studio will "check people's socials" to see if they criticize crunch online before hiring them
Wardogs studio Bulkhead, led by CEO Joe Brammer, embraces crunch culture as an inevitability and actively screens applicants' social media for negative comments about crunch before hiring. Brammer states that while crunch is a possibility, employees who work extra hours receive financial compensation, which he describes as 'life-changing.' This practice highlights ongoing controversial labor issues within the game development industry.
The shockingly good Wolverine game on PS3 saw zero crunch because the terrible movie it accompanied was delayed, dev…
A former developer revealed that the PlayStation 3 game X-Men Origins: Wolverine experienced no crunch due to the movie's delays. This relaxed production environment is credited as a factor in the game's surprisingly high quality, contrasting sharply with the industry's prevalent crunch culture at the time.
"There is a magic to what Rockstar does," former GTA 5 dev says ahead of GTA 6, "I just wish they could…
Former Rockstar Games developer John Ricchio discusses the studio's approach to game development, particularly concerning crunch culture and employee burnout, ahead of Grand Theft Auto 6's release. While acknowledging the "magic" in Rockstar's successful titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption, Ricchio expresses a desire for these achievements to come at a lower human cost, noting that the company's ability to hire new talent can perpetuate demanding work conditions.
GTA 6 developer Rockstar Games accused of enabling crunch, failing to address gender pay gap, and weaponizing bonuses
Rockstar Games is facing accusations from union members regarding enabling crunch culture, failing to address the gender pay gap, and issues with bonus compensation. The union claims that employee contracts normalize crunch and that initiatives to fix pay inequity have been scrapped. A Take-Two Interactive spokesperson stated the company strives to provide world-class work environments and is open to dialogue with the union.
GTA 6 developer Rockstar accused of enforcing crunch, weaponising bonus payments, and ignoring a widening gender pay gap
Rockstar Games is facing new allegations from employees regarding crunch culture, a widening gender pay gap, and the weaponization of bonus payments, particularly concerning the development of Grand Theft Auto 6. These claims emerge as employees pursue union recognition, with Take-Two Interactive stating they will engage in dialogue with the union.
MindsEye’s Former Developers Speak Out Against Crunch Culture at Build A Rocket Boy
Former developers from Build A Rocket Boy have spoken out about the studio's pervasive crunch culture, which led to significant mental and physical health issues among staff. Employees, including lead animator Chris Wilson and lead games analyst Ben Newborn, detailed months-long crunch periods, particularly within the cinematics team, with inadequate pay and excessive overtime. The use of employee monitoring software and a perceived lack of respect from leadership were cited as major grievances.
Magic: The Gathering Arena staff unionize with CWA, citing forced RTO, AI use, and crunch culture
Over one hundred Wizards of the Coast employees working on Magic: The Gathering Arena have formed a union called United Wizards of the Coast, partnering with the Communications Workers of America. The union cites issues such as forced return-to-office mandates, pay discrepancies, forced AI use, and crunch culture as reasons for organizing. This effort is part of a growing trend of unionization within the gaming industry.
Former Naughty Dog Dev Recalls Crunch Culture for Games Like The Last of Us and Uncharted
Former Naughty Dog designer Benson Russell shared insights into the studio's past crunch culture, suggesting it was perceived as necessary for developing games like The Last of Us and Uncharted. Russell's comments highlight the intense work environments that have historically been part of AAA game development.
Naughty Dog Embraced Crunch Culture After The Last of Us, as It's 'What It Takes to Make Games at Our Level'
Former Naughty Dog employee Benson Russell stated that the studio embraced crunch culture after The Last of Us, viewing it as necessary for developing games at their level. He explained that while not legally mandated, crunch is incentivized through bonuses, and employees are implicitly expected to participate or seek employment elsewhere. The studio reportedly treats internal deadlines as external ones, contributing to the demanding work environment.
Game dev union members marched at GDC to propose a 'Game Workers' Bill of Rights'
Members of the United Videogame Workers of CWA union marched at the Game Developers Conference to propose a 'Game Workers' Bill of Rights.' The proposed bill includes protections against mandatory AI use, anti-crunch policies, and protections for immigrant workers. The union also announced a 'We don't play with ICE campaign' and an upcoming online Gamer Workers Conference.
