Diablo 4 Development Marred by Mismanagement and Crunch

As the release date for Diablo 4 approaches, current and former Blizzard employees have come forward to discuss the game's problematic development process. According to a report by The Washington Post, which spoke to 15 current and former employees, the game's development has been plagued by mismanagement, crunch, and shifting release dates. The employees blame poor leadership, including former director Luis Barriga and lead designer Jesse McCree, for the issues. They also criticize the incentivization of crunch with perks, such as food credits and stock bonuses, which they consider inadequate. The report highlights the challenges faced by the development team, including burnout, poor pay, and unsatisfactory working conditions. Despite the challenges, Activision Blizzard claims that production on the game is going well and that overtime is voluntary and limited to specific teams.