The Reality of Crunch in Game Development Studios

The director of Baldur’s Gate 3 and CEO of developers Larian has recently admitted that the studio experienced crunch in order to complete the sprawling Dungeons & Dragons CRPG. While Swen Vincke acknowledged the presence of crunch, he claimed that it was less intense than on previous Larian games like Divinity. Staff were reportedly compensated for their overtime, and the crunch did not extend to working late nights or weekends, at least not for the most part.

During a Q&A session at the Digital Dragons developer conference, Vincke addressed the issue of excessive hours and crunch in game development studios. While he stated that the crunch on Baldur’s Gate 3 was “certainly less” than before, unforeseen circumstances led to some overtime. The studio made an effort to pay for any extra hours worked, and the building was typically empty by 8pm to avoid late-night shifts. Additionally, Larian utilized its global network of studios to ensure that developers could work around the clock without extended hours for any specific team.

According to Vincke, weekend work in the office was a rare occurrence, with staff only needing to come in “very, very, very rarely.” The director emphasized that Larian did not “overly crunch” and that the overtime hours were not as extensive as traditional crunch periods. However, he did acknowledge that some additional work was necessary to bring the complexity of the game together. Despite Vincke’s positive outlook on the situation, there is evidence to suggest otherwise.

With the successful completion of Baldur’s Gate 3 and efforts to minimize crunch, Larian Studios is setting a new standard for game development practices. While upcoming projects may not include Baldur’s Gate 4 or DLC, it is hoped that Larian will continue to prioritize the well-being of its staff and further reduce the need for crunch in the industry. By finding ways to eliminate excessive overtime and maintain a healthy work-life balance, Larian can lead the way in creating a more sustainable and ethical environment for game developers.