Rockstar Games’Red Dead Redemption 2is widely considered to be a gaming masterpiece thanks to its vast map, stunning realism, and thought-provoking story. However, the workplace conditions behind the game’s development led to an outcry from a lot ofemployees who complained of crunch time. Though crunch time is prevalent and frowned upon in the gaming industry, things seemed to be particularly bad at Rockstar, where there had also been reports of excessive crunch time with prior games.
Recent reports suggest Rockstar has turned a new leaf and will be striving for a more compassionate workplace culture with less crunch time. Though Rockstar has yet to announceRed Dead Redemption 3, this would be a game that would benefit most from the change, as the series thrives if developers have the time to give it the attention to detail it deserves. Furthermore, the company’s push to be more politically correct could help it explore topics in America’s history more sensitively thanRed Dead Redemption 2did.
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Rockstar Games Undergoes Radical Change
For most of its history, Rockstar has had the reputation of being the one gaming company that is not afraid to push boundaries and court controversy. It has lived up to its reputation through franchises likeGrand Theft AutoandManhunt, which sparked public outcry and triggered legal action. Internally, things were also quite rebellious. According to a recent Bloomberg report, for a long time, Rockstar’s work environment fomented a frat-boy culture where drinking and trips to strip clubs were not out of place. Furthermore, employees were exposed to crunch time, which is when long work hours are expected, typically during the tail end of a game’s development. Things got particularly bad during the development ofRed Dead Development 2, where employees were suffering through 100-hour work weeks to get the game done.
Regardless, gamers have still flocked to Rockstar because the quality of the studio’s games is undeniable. However, Rockstar has been going through significant changes in recent years, and it is affecting how the company functions and what content its games feature. This has been seen, for instance, with thedeparture of Dan Houser in 2020, which was notable as Dan, along with his brother Sam Houser, co-founded Rockstar and played an important role in theGTAandRed Deadfranchises. The shift in Rockstar’s priorities has also been seen in recent games such asGrand Theft Auto 5, where a transphobic joke was removed, andRed Dead Redemption 2, which grapples with themes of slavery and eugenics.
The greatest changes are perhaps with the company’s internal culture. As Bloomberg reports,Rockstar is attempting to transform itselfinto a more sensitive company with a progressive workplace. As part of this, Rockstar has narrowed its gender pay gap and given employees new mental health and leave benefits. It has also taken steps to lessen crunch time, and it has also implemented a policy called “flexitime” which allows employees to take an hour off for every extra hour they work. These changes will benefit employees, allowing them to have a better work-life balance, and this will ultimately result in better games for Rockstar.
Rockstar’s history of crunch time has negatively impacted employees, leading to disruptions in their personal lives. According to co-founder Jamie King, Rockstar was built on a culture of seven-day work weeks, and games likeMax Payne 3andRed Dead Redemptionwere so strenuous that they affected the mental health and marriages of employees. King admits that this is not sustainable, and he is correct, as a decrease in mental health will inevitably cause a drop in the quality of work an employee can put out.
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With Rockstar moving away from crunch time,Red Dead Redemption 3has the potential to benefit from employees who are not stressed out and overworked.Red Dead Redemption 2was a mind-blowingly intricate game with a massive scope, and with its successor, Rockstar will likely want to surpass it. With employees not stressed by crunch time, they will have the opportunity to give the project all the care it deserves. This could ultimately result in a flourishing of innovation and creativity, resulting in a masterpiece of a game.
Rockstar’s more sensitive, socially conscious attitude will benefit its future games. According to Bloomberg, gamers will see this withGrand Theft Auto 6, which will feature, for the first time inGTA’s history, a Latina female protagonist. If handled correctly, this could do a lot to correctGTA’s regrettable past with female representation. Additionally, developers are attempting to not “punch down” and target marginalized groups, which could result in a game that is less offensive than its predecessors. ThoughGrand Theft Autohas always reveled in its satire of America,Red Dead Redemptionhas tended to be a bit more nuanced with its social commentary, which is why it may benefit the most from Rockstar’s new direction.
Red Dead Redemption 2illustrated nuanced takes on complex topics in America’s history. Through Lenny, players learned more about racism, while the gang’s encounter with Rains Fall andEagle Fliesgave some insight into how Native Americans were affected by American expansion. However, the game still fell short on some fronts, such as its handling of Women’s Suffrage, which the game’s protagonist takes a flippant approach toward.Red Dead Redemption 3could see the game tackle issues in America’s history, but with even more nuance than its predecessors and with greater sensitivity.
It remains to be seen how Rockstar’s new workplace will affect future titles, but things seem positive if Bloomberg’s report is anything to go by. A more compassionate approach to gaming could open up the door for more careful approaches to the topics that theRed Deadseriestends to tackle. Furthermore, with Rockstar moving toward less crunch time, developers will have the space to craft a world with even more intricacy and immersion.
Red Dead Redemption 2is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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