The journalist Jason Schreier has now revealed that Cyberpunk 2077 is, in fact, being developed under overtime work, known as crunch. For this, he is criticized by many players. They claim it is hardly worth mentioning. They likely want to smear the beloved studio, CD Projekt Red, with dirt.
This is the background:
- In May 2019, former developers of Cyberpunk 2077 reached out to US journalist Jason Schreier. They said that the development was rocky, leading to many overtime hours. They compared the development to that of Anthem: poor management had led to long periods of little progress, and then employees became sick during the sprint.
- Even before an article with these “insider information” could be published, the heads of the studio approached Schreier and said: they wanted to grant the employees the same respect as gamers. They were implementing a policy that prohibits “mandatory overtime” (via kotaku).
- This promise has now been revoked – shortly before the release of Cyberpunk 2077, crunch is indeed happening. The executives see no other option. However, it is said that employees will be compensated well for it.
This is the reaction: To Jason Schreier’s dismay, the news that they have to work overtime and switch to a 6-day week left many indifferent. On the contrary, Schreier was accused of “artificially” inflating the matter. He is accused of trying to write a crisis.
Overtime in projects is totally normal. And in many industries, it is even worse. It is made out to be “much ado about nothing.” Schreier should not be so sensitive, it was essentially said.
“My goodness, overtime is totally normal”
These reactions on Twitter coincide with those on MeinMMO. Here, too, many users see no reason to worry about “a few overtime hours”:
- So writes user Jaba01: “Why is everyone whining here when people do a little overtime?”
- Psycheater says: “I honestly don’t understand why there is so much fuss in the gaming industry over this newfangled term. Overtime is commonplace in many other industries.”
- Hugo adds: “My goodness, it is six weeks. Crunch exists in extremely many industries, especially during the final push. Healthcare, for example, is crunching 24/7 365 days a year.”
Apparently, journalist Schreier was also personally attacked on Twitter: He believes it is because CD Projekt Red is so incredibly loved. Fans defend them at any cost.
Crunch is a culture – not just “a few overtime hours”
This is what the journalist is saying now: Schreier now emphasizes in further tweets and in an article that there are apparently some misunderstandings circulating. Crunch is much worse than “a few overtime hours” as many gamers understand it:
- Crunch in the video game industry is not “just a little longer working for 6 weeks”.
- According to Schreier, “the crunch culture” in the video game industry is a constant state: due to group pressure, it has become the norm for everyone to work longer hours constantly. This destroys marriages and drives people to burnout. You only have to see how many developers are fleeing from the video game industry to realize what the culture is causing.
- Even now with Cyberpunk 2077, the announcement to make “overtime mandatory” is merely the tip of the iceberg: it officially makes what has been going on for a long time clear. Because many in the studio have been working overtime for a long time. This is confirmed by an email from the studio head, who wrote, “Like almost everyone else in the studio, I am also overworked, mentally exhausted, and feel the pressure when I look at the calendar.”
Crunch is far away from the average player
This is what lies behind it: The fight against “crunch culture” in the video game industry has a long history. There have been insider reports and scandals for years about how bad things can get. Someone like Schreier, who talks a lot with developers, has a nightmarish situation in mind when he hears the word “crunch” and thinks of the personal tragedies that can occur under such circumstances.
In 2019, Schreier revealed, for example, the miserable conditions under which some developers had to work on Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. It sounds like a “job from hell” as Schreier describes it.
For the average gamer, who reads about “overtime” and is not shown a horror scenario, it is very far from reality. Ultimately, they have less contact with the people who make the game than with the games themselves.
When, a few years ago, reports emerged about “terrible working conditions” at Fortnite developer Epic, there was no backlash against the reporting.
Crunch = Quality games!
— Beemo_Shellz? (@Beemo_B1) September 29, 2020
Ultimately, gamers also believe: Who wants to be beautiful must suffer. Only when developers are willing to put in extra work will good games come out.
Stories about crunch from the USA have often been horrible. It gets truly sickening when looking at Asia. There, in record time, a mobile MMO was supposed to be created. That worked out and generated enormous amounts of money. However, during the development, developers reportedly worked so hard that some lost their lives.
In Japan, South Korea, and China, there are even specific words for “death from overwork”:
Crunch Time: Young developer works himself to death – 89-hour week
Because the “victims” of the overtime culture are invisible, and there are no videos or images of this, it is not present.
Many are familiar with “overtime” from their own work environment and do not see the drastic impact of the “constant 60-hour” week that Schreier envisions.
Additionally, CD Projekt Red is one of the last “sacred studios”: Players do not want to let anything happen to the beloved creators of The Witcher.
People also do not want to believe that it could be so harsh at such a beloved studio.
When, a few years ago, reports emerged about “terrible working conditions” at Fortnite developer Epic, there was no backlash against the reporting.
Crunch = Quality games!
— Beemo_Shellz? (@Beemo_B1) September 29, 2020
Ultimately, gamers also believe: Who wants to be beautiful must suffer. Only when developers are willing to put in extra work will good games come out.
Stories about crunch from the USA have often been horrible. It gets truly sickening when looking at Asia. There, in record time, a mobile MMO was supposed to be created. That worked out and generated enormous amounts of money. However, during the development, developers reportedly worked so hard that some lost their lives.
In Japan, South Korea, and China, there are even specific words for “death from overwork”:
Crunch Time: Young developer works himself to death – 89-hour week
