Hideo Kojima Says Crunch It’s “Incredibly Tough”

Summary

  • Game development culture still involves “crunching” despite improvements in working conditions.
  • Hideo Kojima acknowledged the physically and mentally demanding nature of crunch time on Twitter.
  • The culture of crunch will likely persist due to high budgets and unreachable sales goals in game development.

Despite improvements in working conditions at video game studios over time, the practice known as “crunching,” where developers are compelled to work excessively long hours to hit a project’s target or deadline, persists within the industry culture, giving the impression that this demanding trend may continue indefinitely.

Even a highly acclaimed figure like Hideo Kojima isn’t exempt from working under pressure, as this esteemed video game creator has recently expressed his views on the topic.

Hideo Kojima Calls Crunch The Most Demanding Period Of Game Development

On Twitter/X, Kojima pointed out that the phase of game development which is the most challenging, both in terms of physical and mental exertion, often referred to as “crunch time,” is a particularly grueling period. In addition to mixing sounds and recording Japanese voices, there’s an accumulation of various tasks such as writing comments, explanations, essays, interviews, discussions, and work not directly related to the game itself. It’s extremely challenging, he mentioned.

In response, let me rephrase that for you: The post echoed a prior message from the game creator, who wrote “Tired,” and it displayed an image of what appears to be a Japanese night sky.

As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the fact that the demanding work culture in video game production, often referred to as “crunch,” doesn’t seem to be fading anytime soon. Even someone of Kojima’s stature isn’t exempt from it, so it’s safe to say that those of us in lower ranks won’t find any relief from this demanding lifestyle.

If you’re curious about which title Hideo Kojima is currently putting extra hours into, there’s a good chance it’s Death Stranding 2: By the Sea Edge, given its anticipated release in 2025. In addition to this sequel, Kojima is also developing a horror game for Xbox called “OD” and another title that will take him back to his stealth gaming foundations with Physint. Development on both games continues at present, but the video game writers’ strike has impacted the progress of these projects.

Apart from Kojima, Neil Druckmann, the leading figure at Naughty Dog, has also expressed his views on crunch, advocating for the implementation of safeguards or boundaries (guardrails) to ensure the well-being of team members.

Is it possible that the need for ‘crunch’ in game development will disappear at some point? It seems unlikely. Given the current level of funding and the challenging sales targets, this demanding cycle is likely to persist.

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2025-01-14 00:39