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Jason Schreier: Update on Rockstar Lincoln company labor conditions
- Thread starter Theorry
- Start date
This is definitely good to hear, but how much of this is because of actual policy reform vs the fact that RDR2 has been released, so its now in the post-release development stage vs full development?
Following the launch of the biggest game of the generation, employees are working less overtime
Good news about other changes though
Good news about other changes though
But I thought Era was just an outrage machine itching to break out its pitchforks at the slightest provocation?
Could it be that speaking out... helps?
Could it be that speaking out... helps?
Whenever we would see specific stories on crunch so many would chime in and say nothing will change and this happens everywhere. Well you still need specific accounts to hold companies specifically accountable because then you have things like this happen. Now I really want to know what it's like at Bioware after Jason's article on "Bioware magic."
Aren't they still pumping out content on RD online and GTA online?
I don't know, I don't really play RockStar games but I do know of crunch time and things can seem better when the crunch has past. Obviously full-time positions is a huge help but I imagine that work isn't as crazy when there isn't a game about to launch.
Hopefully such improvements and balance continue into the inevitable pre-release crunch periods for the studio's next big game.
In relation to hours, i would bet it being related to not being in full development, but stuff like turning contractors into full time employees is especially good
From what we know, development never stops at Rockstar. DLC is always being hammered away on, even post-release. And why would you convert contractors to full-time when you would need less of them, if there's less dev? Guess we'll find out if there was any slimming down when Schreier digs deeper.
Definitely, but you have to remember that one of the biggest games on the planet right now is GTA Online, which is consistently getting new patches and updates. (They just dropped a humongous casino pack the other day.) As has been reported many times, companies like Epic and Respawn have had to deal with severe work-life balance issues thanks to the cadence of updates required to maintain games like Fortnite and Apex Legends. Some of the worst crunch in Treyarch's QA department happened in early 2019, months after Black Ops 4 launched, because they had such an intense schedule of updates. GTA/RDR Online are very similar. So it's not quite as simple as "well of course they're not crunching, they don't have a game this year" - they've got new updates to test out every week.
This is how people reporting on this stuff can help and make a positive difference. It's fantastic they seem to be moving in the right direction now, I hope it keeps up!
I think they're always going to work really hard with Rockstar constantly updating GTA Online and RDR online.
It depends on scale and scope of DLC that is released. Bigger DLC might mean more overtime.
Yea but i am not sure how were they crunching for GTAO as compared to pre launch rdr2
Some studios like Treyarch worked harder after launch than before launch, because they had to do loads of updates. That might also be the case for Rockstar with the recent release of the casino update in GTA Online and updates to RDR Online.
Yeah, speaking objectively about it: What's the harm in reporting about issues, regardless of how severe they are? There is none. The pushback comes from fanboys or people who lack empathy.
As a consumer I have to admit all the talk of anti-crunch has me, admittedly selfishly, fearing a future where game qualities decrease because employees were re-cultivated not to get things done or get as many (ambitious) things done in the development cycle they had.
However, sometimes these issues are purely from oversight or negligence, CEOs and the like simply not having considered how much hell they have dragged some of their less profilic employees through, and I'm glad to see some of these reactions lead to changes that are just better.
And of course, I hope that time will prove that changes to crunch culture lead to better games as sustainability is retained over many years instead of developers burning out after an amazing result and leaving that company's next games to be severely inferior.
However, sometimes these issues are purely from oversight or negligence, CEOs and the like simply not having considered how much hell they have dragged some of their less profilic employees through, and I'm glad to see some of these reactions lead to changes that are just better.
And of course, I hope that time will prove that changes to crunch culture lead to better games as sustainability is retained over many years instead of developers burning out after an amazing result and leaving that company's next games to be severely inferior.
Seems good on the surface.
I would like to check in with them as GTA 6 approaches its launch though.
I would like to check in with them as GTA 6 approaches its launch though.
Great to get an update and it's nice to hear that there have been improvements. Hopefully things continue to improve and those improvements hold during the development of their next big project.
Pretty much this. What if the next Rockstar game enters crunch?
Other studios take note. I'm currently doing localization work for a big AAA title that I can't disclose and the volumes and deadlines are murder.
Also, wouldn't you say development never really stops at R*?
Their mainline games take years and years, have to think something unannounced is already in full development across Rockstar's studios.
Either way, thank you for your dogged reporting on these issues.
The more we talk about this stuff, the more people that do good investigative work on workplace conditions the better things will get for everyone I hope. Not just people in the game industry but everywhere.
