Work Culture
Ongoing coverage on Work Culture.
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Former developers of Destiny 2 have come forward alleging that Bungie maintains a toxic workplace environment. These accusations shed light on potential issues within the studio's culture.
Despite a ‘toxic’ and ‘dysfunctional’ work environment, Destiny 2 devs reminisce on lifelong friendships
Former Destiny 2 developers from Bungie reflect on their experiences, acknowledging a "toxic" and "dysfunctional" work environment while emphasizing the strong, lifelong friendships forged during their time on the game. Despite challenges, they recall positive moments and the importance of camaraderie in their work.
Diablo 4 developer explains why AAA crunch still exists
Diablo IV lead engine engineer Marcin Undak discussed the persistent issue of crunch in AAA game development, distinguishing it from the survival-driven crunch in indie studios. He suggested that in larger companies like Blizzard, crunch often stems from workplace culture rather than necessity, highlighting concerns about poor planning and management decisions. The conversation around crunch continues amidst growing unionization efforts in the industry.
"Our engineers are quite for it… Artists are much more emotive." When it comes to AI, HR is on the front line between management and employees
Niki Head, People and Development Director at Stellar Entertainment Software, discusses the impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Resources. She highlights how AI tools can streamline tasks like employee review analysis and risk prediction, but also acknowledges employee fears of job displacement and the limitations of AI in understanding human emotion and complex interpersonal issues. Head emphasizes HR's crucial role in mediating between management and employees, providing expertise, and ensuring ethical implementation of AI.
Jeff Kaplan Calls Activision Exit His Biggest ‘F**k You Moment’
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan described his 2021 exit from Activision Blizzard as his biggest 'f**k you moment,' suggesting deep dissatisfaction with the company's direction and workplace conditions during a period of significant crisis. His departure and subsequent comments highlight ongoing issues within the gaming industry regarding creative control and developer treatment.
Jeff Kaplan Drops Bombshell About ‘Contentious’ Activision Exit
Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan described his 2021 departure from Activision Blizzard as the biggest "f**k you moment" of his career, suggesting a deeply contentious exit. This revelation sheds light on potential issues within Blizzard during the development of Overwatch 2 and contributes to a broader discussion about how major game studios treat their creative talent.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Review
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a staggeringly detailed and massive open-world game that offers an enjoyable, albeit uneven, tale set in the Old West. The game excels in its immersion, with a world that feels alive and characters that are given ample opportunity to endear themselves to the player. While the game is an incredible achievement in design and presentation, the review also touches upon the labor costs and crunch culture at Rockstar Games that contributed to its development.