Fighting Crunch Time: Progress at Risk in the Gaming Industry

Osama Dorias, a lead gameplay designer at Brass Lion Entertainment, shared his personal experience with burnout in the gaming industry and its impact on his mental health during a panel discussion at the Game Developers' Conference in March. Now, he is set to speak at the International Games Summit on Mental Health, where he will discuss the industry's progress in dealing with burnout. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Dorias noted that while some companies have made significant strides in achieving a better work-life balance and providing support systems for employees, others are moving slower. The shift towards remote work during the Covid pandemic accelerated this process, but with the return to office work, some companies are reverting to old habits. Dorias believes that the recent layoffs and closures in the industry have led some companies to use uncertainty as an excuse to push employees to work extra hours, which can be manipulative and ultimately harmful. He also highlighted that developers are becoming more aware of the importance of not valorizing crunch time and are pushing back against the practice. However, it is still challenging for employees to determine whether their employers will prioritize work-life balance and support their well-being. Dorias shared a personal anecdote about his experience with an employee benefit that covered therapy sessions, which was helpful but ultimately insufficient. He noted that when the studio hired a therapist, the focus shifted from addressing the root causes of burnout to finding ways to make the current situation work. Despite some backsliding, Dorias is encouraged by the progress the industry has made so far, citing examples such as Eidos Montreal's four-day work week. However, he acknowledges that all the progress made is at risk of being undone. Dorias emphasized that the onus for avoiding burnout lies with companies, which must study the issue and make a business case for prioritizing their employees' well-being. By doing so, companies can benefit from healthier and happier employees who produce better work, rather than simply working longer hours.