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Jason Schreier: Video Game Delays Cause More Crunch | ResetEra

 

These days, most video game fans are sympathetic to delays. They recognize that more time makes for better games, and that game development is too complicated for anyone to accurately predict release dates very far in advance. So after a string of high-profile delays this week, including the role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077 and an action game based on The Avengers, a whole bunch of fans were happy to declare that they'd rather wait a few extra months than see developers work overtime to hit their deadlines. If only!  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  

Imagine, then, having a single release date in mind--knowing that you'll just have to work nights and weekends until then--only for that date to slip back five more months. Maybe at that point, the emails will start getting even more contrite. "Hey everyone, thanks so much for all of your hard work. The good news is that we just got some more time, which means we'll be able to get in all those kick-dog features we wanted. The bad news is that we're just going to have to keep pushing a little bit harder."  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  

With very few exceptions, video game delays lead to more crunch, not less. Naughty Dog bumping The Last of Us II from February to May has meant three more months of developer overtime at a studio that's well-known for workaholism, according to those I've asked about it. Earlier this week, when The Avengers was delayed from May to September, the developers at Crystal Dynamics may have been relieved--The Avengers did not show well at E3 2019 and will undoubtedly benefit from the extra time--but the crunch will continue, even if, as at many studios, it's still called "optional." (Crystal Dynamics, also infamous for crunch, has a raffle system in which developers can acquire tickets and win prizes in exchange for their overtime hours, according to two people familiar with goings-on at the studio.)  Click to expand... Click to shrink...  

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      Video Game Delays Cause More Crunch  These days, most video game fans are sympathetic to delays. They recognize that more time makes for better games, and that game development is too complicated for anyone to accurately predict release dates very far in advance. So after a string of high-profile delays this week, including the...   kotaku.com