Striking Distance Studios, the developer behind 2022's The Callisto Protocol, has revealed what is internally called Project Birdeye, a top-down spin-off set in the same universe. A small team will continue to develop the fast-paced roguelike while the rest of the studio works on another full-scale game, and we got a brief trailer showing off some stylised action.
GTA 6 Devs Fear Return Of "Toxic Crunch"
01.03.2024 - 12:19 / thegamer.com
As we reported yesterday, Grand Theft Auto 6 is said to be in the "final stages" of development, indicating that it's on track for its planned 2025 launch window. However, this report also claims that Rockstar is asking workers to return to the office full-time, putting an end to remote working practices that were popular with developers.
Now, workers speaking anonymously through their union have hit back, criticising Rockstar for its "reckless decision making", and saying that there has been "zero consultation" with staff. They also fear that there will be a return of "toxic" crunch practices if they return to the office, which could see devs working excessive overtime - an issue Rockstar workers have complained of in the past.
“Working from home has been a lifeline for many of us at Rockstar, allowing us to balance care responsibilities, manage disabilities, and relocate as we need," says one anonymous Rockstar developer, speaking through their union, IWGB. "Now, Rockstar is snatching away that lifeline."
They continue: "After so many broken promises we now fear management may even be paving the way for a return to toxic ‘crunch’ practices. Senior leadership need to rethink their reckless decision making and engage with their staff to find an arrangement that works for everyone."
Another worker, also speaking anonymously through the union, agrees. "Just one of my concerns is being forced to work late hours in the office to maintain contact with global teams when before we could log on from home to attend late meetings," they say. "This will mean missing out on spending time with our families."
We now fear management may even be paving the way for a return to toxic ‘crunch’ practices.
Rockstar has previously been accused of implementing crunch practices to ship its games. Most notably, Red Dead Redemption 2's development was said to be particularly difficult. According to a 2018 report from Kotaku, developers frequently felt "compelled" to work evenings and weekends, often resulting in working six days a week, ten hours a day. Many who crunched like this were salaried and did not receive any compensation for their overtime.
This was said to have improved by 2022, but according to the workers speaking out this week, they still fear that Rockstar could go back on its word to get GTA 6 shipped. Rockstar has yet to respond to these comments.
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