Recently, the director of Baldur’s Gate 3 and CEO of Larian Studios, Swen Vincke, opened up about the experience of crunch that the studio went through in order to complete the ambitious Dungeons & Dragons CRPG. While Vincke admitted that there was indeed crunch involved in the development process, he emphasized that it was less severe compared to their previous projects like Divinity. He mentioned that the team was compensated for the overtime work, and they did not have to work late nights or weekends extensively.
During a Q&A session at the Digital Dragons developer conference, Vincke addressed the common issue of excessive working hours in the gaming industry. He stated that while there was some crunch involved in the development of Baldur’s Gate 3, it was minimal compared to their previous experiences. The crunch mainly occurred when unexpected issues arose during the development process. Despite the need for some overtime work, Vincke highlighted that the studio made efforts to minimize it, with the building typically being empty by 8pm.
Efforts to Minimize Overtime
One of the ways Larian Studios managed to reduce overtime was by utilizing their other studios around the world. This allowed the development team to work around the clock without requiring staff in any one office to work late hours. Additionally, Vincke mentioned that working on weekends in the office was a rare occurrence, further showcasing Larian’s efforts to maintain a healthy work-life balance for their employees.
Vincke’s perspective on the crunch situation at Larian Studios was that they did not overly rely on crunch to meet deadlines. He noted that while some overtime was necessary to bring the complex project to completion, it was not as extensive as traditional crunch practices in the industry. Despite acknowledging the need for some overtime work, Vincke expressed hope that future projects at Larian Studios would further minimize or eliminate the need for crunch entirely.
Looking Towards the Future
With the completion of Baldur’s Gate 3 and the studio’s commitment to compensating their employees for overtime work, it is clear that Larian Studios is making strides towards creating a more sustainable work environment. By learning from their past experiences and implementing strategies to minimize crunch, Larian Studios is setting a positive example for the industry. As they move forward with new projects, it is essential that they continue to prioritize the well-being of their team and strive to eliminate the need for excessive working hours.
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