In the gaming industry, the long-standing practice of "crunch"—demanding excessively long work hours to meet project deadlines—is increasingly under scrutiny and widely condemned. However, it appears to remain a persistent challenge for many studios. A recent report indicates that Naughty Dog, a prominent game developer, has mandated additional work hours for its staff since late October. This directive aims to complete an internal demonstration of their upcoming science fiction title, 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,' raising questions about the studio's commitment to employee well-being despite past pledges to move away from such intense work schedules.
The game, 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,' first made its public appearance at The Game Awards in 2024 with an extended cinematic trailer. This initial glimpse suggested a fusion of the studio's previous 'Uncharted' series with elements reminiscent of 'Ready Player One,' set against a cosmic backdrop, featuring branded starships, classic audio players, animated content, and retro music. Neil Druckmann, the studio head, later elaborated that the game, despite its action-oriented presentation, delves into themes of faith and religion, offering an intriguing narrative direction that has seen little public discussion since its announcement.
Reports suggest that the development process for 'Intergalactic' has not been without its difficulties. The Bloomberg investigation revealed that Naughty Dog had missed several internal milestones for the project. The current push for increased working hours is reportedly an effort to bring the game back on track. Employees were reportedly advised to limit their workweek to no more than 60 hours and were also required to be present in the office five days a week, a significant increase from the previously allowed three days.
While the mandatory overtime and increased office presence reportedly concluded recently for the majority of the team as the internal demo reaches its final stages, concerns linger among employees. With the full game's release anticipated in 2027, some staff members fear that these intense work demands might intensify once again as the project nears its ultimate completion.
This isn't the first instance of Naughty Dog facing scrutiny over its work practices. A comprehensive report from 2020 highlighted that "crunch culture" was a pervasive issue within the studio, often exceeding the demanding norms of the video game industry. A developer working on 'The Last of Us 2' noted at the time that while the studio fostered an exceptional creative environment, the expectations for continuous work left little room for personal life. Patrick Goss, a quality assurance lead, acknowledged in early 2024 the studio's reputation for intense work periods, vowing a change in approach. However, as demonstrated by the development of 'Cyberpunk 2077' by CD Projekt, committing to no "crunch" is often easier said than done, and implementing such a policy effectively remains a significant challenge.
The continuous cycle of intense work demands within the video game industry highlights an ongoing struggle between creative ambition and employee welfare. While Naughty Dog has historically produced critically acclaimed titles, the recurring reports of mandatory overtime for key development milestones indicate a systemic issue that continues to challenge the industry's progress towards sustainable and healthy work environments.
