CDPR implement Mandatory Overtime for final stretch of Cyberpunk 2077

[Paddy McGee]

Over the last couple of days, noted Games Journalist Jason Schreier posted an article documenting how CDPR have implemented mandatory overtime for this final stretch of Development on Cyberpunk 2077.

Cyberpunk 2077 Publisher Orders 6-Day Weeks Ahead of Launch

Polish video game developer CD Projekt Red told employees on Monday that six-day work weeks will be mandatory leading up to the November release of the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077, reneging on an earlier promise to not force overtime on the project.

www.bloomberg.com

This comes a year or so after an announcement from CDPR about a commitment to reducing the volume of crunch.

This isn't the only aspect of crunch here, however: allegedly multiple times across CDPR have been working at crunch for months, if not years.

A key aspect to note: Poland is subject to EU labour laws, so overtime has to be paid (unlike in the USA), which can very much change someone's perspective on a topic like this.

What do you think about this? How do you feel about crunch and overtime in the games industry?

 

[Dionysos]

It sounds like they were just saying whatever would make them look good at a time when crunch was being criticised a great deal, but they clearly haven’t respected their promise in full.

I can understand there will be the pressure of deadlines and that the publisher side of things will likely be applying significant pressure in order to get a product out, particularly following the delays that this particular game has experienced. Having said that, no, as a principle I don't like this culture at all, especially when it is over a prolonged period. The implications for the mental health and physical well-being of the employees could be profound even if it is paid. Having gold coins thrown at your head is only going to feel like being stoned to death when you are too weak and tired to catch them and put them in your pocket. When it isn't paid then it is effectively slavery.

While it seems like CD Projekt are hoping to transform their workspace and make it humane and updated for our times, they appear to have temporarily put that principle on hold in order to release Cyberpunk 2077.

I wonder if we can trust any developers of highly anticipated AAA titles to change their culture if they'll end up crunching just to release their games anyway. If this is to be expected every time then that culture may not change anytime soon.

 

[Mercurial]

It depends largely on the severity of the crunch, both in terms of hours worked and workplace environment.

I would be surprised if every single CDPR employee is working the same length of hours - there are probably some employees that have completed (or close to completed) their contribution and are just working the extra mandatory day to lend a hand, which isn't that bad given they will be paid. Then there will be those working 14/15 hour days over an extended period of time, which is not remotely acceptable. On top of this, you've got the overwhelming pressure that companies are pumping tens of millions into these projects to be top quality (certainly for AAA companies). The 'Into The Unknown: Making Frozen II' and 'Raising Kratos' documentaries are good examples of how much pressure employees are under - I think for a lot of people, it's an eye-opener as to how much effort goes into these projects. Certainly in the Frozen II documentary, some people work 8/9 months to develop a 6 second clip.

I'd wager a good third of employees in this country (UK) - particularly those who hold a degree of responsibility within their company - will work a significant amount of overtime over a financial year, so overtime in itself is not uncommon, but a 'crunch culture', particularly on the extreme end of the scale, is certainly unhealthy and needs regulating. Unfortunately, it probably won't be individual companies that induce a culture change, but will need all developers - particularly the larger ones (i.e, Rockstar, EA etc.) to sit down and discuss an industry-wide regulation.

Having worked 40 hours over three days a couple of weeks ago (a complete one-off), it's unbelievably draining, even over a short period of time. You go to work, eat, sleep, repeat. No social life, no family life, no downtime. It's staggering that employees are allowed to do this on a regular basis.