Current Events > CDPR goes back on its word, orders mandatory 6-day work weeks for CP2077

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-29/cyberpunk-2077-publisher-orders-6-day-weeks-ahead-of-game-debut

Polish video game developer CD Projekt Red told employees on Monday that six-day work weeks will be mandatory leading up to the November release of the highly anticipated Cyberpunk 2077, reneging on an earlier promise to not force overtime on the project.

Red, a subsidiary of Polands biggest gaming company CD Projekt SA, has been criticized previously for engaging in crunch, an industry term for excessive overtime in game development. The practice often lasts for weeks and can stretch out for months or even years. CD Projekt Red co-chief executive officer Marcin Iwinski last year told gaming website Kotaku that the company would be avoiding mandatory crunch and was committed to allowing employees to work without overtime.

But an account from a CD Projekt Red employee recently as well as an email to staff earlier this week indicate that the company hasnt lived up to its word. The employee, who asked not to be named discussing private information, said some staff had already been putting in nights and weekends for more than a year.

In the email, CD Projekt Red studio head Adam Badowski wrote that he was optimistic about the state of Cyberpunk 2077, which stars Keanu Reeves, and that they had just sent the game to be certified for release on Sony Corp.s PlayStation and Microsoft Corp.s Xbox. Now, he wrote, it was time to fix the games many lingering bugs and glitches.

Starting today, the entire (development) studio is in overdrive, Badowski wrote, elaborating that this meant your typical amount of work and one day of the weekend. The extra work would be paid, as required by Polish labor laws. Many other video game studios dont pay for overtime.

I take it upon myself to receive the full backlash for the decision, he wrote. I know this is in direct opposition to what weve said about crunch. Its also in direct opposition to what I personally grew to believe a while back -- that crunch should never be the answer. But weve extended all other possible means of navigating the situation.

CD Projekt Red didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last year, Iwinski and Badowski told Kotaku that they were looking to make CD Projekt Red a more humane place to work.

We are known for treating gamers with respect, Iwinski said. I actually would [like] for us to also be known for treating developers with respect.

(Time to unionize)
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Damn who could have seen this coming
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but i swear this was the one good company

Just delay the game. It's not a big deal. The people upset will get over it.

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Darmik posted...

Just delay the game. It's not a big deal. The people upset will get over it.

Their resistance to another delay has less to do with the fans and more to do with soulless businessmen that need vidya game money to roll in by the holidays.
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lol this game is gonna be trash. I can tell

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The workers won't mind as long as they're paid for it.
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Darmik posted...

Just delay the game. It's not a big deal. The people upset will get over it.

Yeah, I'd prefer them delay it than doing this to the employees.

Honestly, I won't buy it now. I know my one copy won't make a difference. But I'm out. There are a number of games I won't buy and I stand by that. It is what it is.

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Smashingpmkns posted...

Their resistance to another delay has less to do with the fans and more to do with soulless businessmen that need vidya game money to roll in by the holidays.

Unfortunately yes. Probably gonna launch in a buggy mess like...well all of their games so far.

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Darmik posted...

Just delay the game. It's not a big deal. The people upset will get over it.

It's already been delayed twice despite supposedly being "complete" both times they announced they delayed it lol
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Smashingpmkns posted...

Their resistance to another delay has less to do with the fans and more to do with soulless businessmen that need vidya game money to roll in by the holidays.

This

A few months of 6 day workweeks arent uncommon at all in my field.

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Bio1590 posted...

The extra work would be paid, as required by Polish labor laws. Many other video game studios dont pay for overtime.

Well, there's that' at least...

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Who even cares, these guys get good wages, good benefits, the works

I'll never understand why this shit is even a story

This ain't a Chinese sweat shop with no air conditioning employing minors

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Northlane posted...

Who even cares, these guys get good wages, good benefits, the works

I'll never understand why this shit is even a story

This ain't a Chinese sweat shop with no air conditioning employing minors

This specific instance isnt a big deal if its only gonna be a few weeks leading up to the release. The problem is a lot of other companies most notoriously it was like rockstar who would have employees working this overtime with absurdly long hours for like six months to nine months a year and thats just unacceptable

In the email, CD Projekt Red studio head Adam Badowski wrote that he was optimistic about the state of Cyberpunk 2077, which stars Keanu Reeves, and that they had just sent the game to be certified for release on Sony Corp.s PlayStation and Microsoft Corp.s Xbox. Now, he wrote, it was time to fix the games many lingering bugs and glitches.

Haha fuck modern gaming

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It's that time again folks!



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Northlane posted...

Who even cares, these guys get good wages, good benefits, the works

I'll never understand why this shit is even a story

This ain't a Chinese sweat shop with no air conditioning employing minors

Good benefits or not, 6 days of possibly 10+ hour days is soul crishing for anyone. And in this case while its good laws are paying for it many companies simply force it for months and don't offer overtime benefits.

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Weve been having a lot of forced six day weeks as well.

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