The director of Baldur’s Gate 3 and CEO of developers Larian recently admitted that the studio had to resort to crunch in order to finish the sprawling Dungeons & Dragons CRPG. While Swen Vincke acknowledged the presence of crunch, he claimed that it was less severe compared to previous projects like Divinity. He mentioned that the team was compensated for the overtime work, and it did not extend to working late nights or weekends, for the most part.
During a Q&A session at the Digital Dragons developer conference, Vincke addressed concerns about excessive working hours to complete Baldur’s Gate 3. He acknowledged that there was some level of crunch involved, particularly when unexpected events occurred during the development process. However, he emphasized that the amount of overtime was less compared to their previous projects.
Vincke explained that any overtime work was compensated, and the studio ensured that the staff did not have to stay late in the office. By leveraging Larian’s global network of studios, developers were able to work around the clock without requiring individual teams to work extended hours. Additionally, weekend work in the office was a rare occurrence, suggesting that Larian made efforts to minimize overtime and prioritize work-life balance.
Despite Vincke’s assertion that Larian did not excessively employ crunch practices, he acknowledged that some overtime was necessary to meet project deadlines. He reasoned that the complexity of game development sometimes necessitates a bit of extra work towards the end of a project. However, he emphasized that the studio did not engage in prolonged periods of crunch, hinting at a more balanced approach to managing work demands.
With the improved handling of crunch in Baldur’s Gate 3 compared to past projects and the commitment to compensating staff for overtime work, Larian appears to be moving in the right direction. As they look ahead to future endeavors, it is essential for the studio to continue finding ways to reduce or eliminate crunch entirely from their development process. By prioritizing the well-being of their team members and implementing sustainable work practices, Larian can set a positive example for the industry and foster a healthier work environment for all involved.
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