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Crunch is - and always has been - a problem in software development (especially games), but forcing people to sacrifice their families, health and sanity for the sake of an EXPANSION DLC for a AAA game that already shipped and then laying them off afterwards? That's diabolical.

pcgamer.comFormer id Software producer says the team faced the 'worst crunch' in the series' history on Doom: The Dark Ages – Revelations: 'There were days where I didn't see my son'"There were two months where I was working something like at least 12 hours every day."

Sean Jordan | Sharing Great Games You Probably Never Played!

@greatestgames.substack.com

I not only refuse to believe business must be done this way, but I'd argue we as gamers need to develop strong, unified principles to say, "I will not support publishers that treat their game devs this way." Microsoft is among the worst and most abusive when it comes to layoffs.

2/9/26, 12:15 pm4 reposts4 likes

Sean Jordan | Sharing Great Games You Probably Never Played!

@greatestgames.substack.com

2 Sept

I'll remind everyone too - most of the people who played Doom: TDA did so through Game Pass. So all this labor id Software put in wasn't for a financial benefit. It was to prop up an unsustainable subscription model through which they received little financial reward. The DLC may make more money!

🎃 Sronmar 🎃

@sronmar.bsky.social

2 Sept

Business is done that way precisely because of greed and abuse. They lay them off and then report massive profits, or vice versa. Diabolical is the right word for any of this.

Sean Jordan | Sharing Great Games You Probably Never Played!

@greatestgames.substack.com

2 Sept

The inevitable answer is unions. The article says it plainly. The film industry is unionized and people who move from it into game development are shocked at the difference.

🎃 Sronmar 🎃

@sronmar.bsky.social

2 Sept

They've always been a good thing. It's the reason why Margaret Thatcher destroyed so many of them decades ago. Those "in power" don't like it when you ask for what's just. Unions make sure the employee is protected and respected. Leon skum made threats to them during the pandemic. It's all the same.