Stressed Out by Mass Layoffs, CD Projekt Staff Have Finally Set Out to Unionize — So What’s Next?
Stressed Out by Mass Layoffs, CD Projekt Staff Have Finally Set Out to Unionize — So What’s Next?
CD Projekt staff are unionizing in response to sweeping layoffs. IGN speaks to workers at the Cyberpunk 2077 developer to find out what's next.
Good. I'm absolutely amazed how the biggest entertainment industry on earth is able to pay it's staff so little, as well as shit on them in benefits.
The answer is as simple as it is horrible: It's because for every burned-out, overworked and underpaid game dev, there are two starry-eyed kids who want to realize their dream and create games - and the C-suite knows this.They will replace any veteran dev with someone right out of college as soon as it is convenient
Mind, I am not blaming young people who want to create games. They lack the experience to know they are getting exploited. It's all the cynicism of managers who know no loyalty and only want profits.
And if anyone wonders why every new game somehow manages to be a buggy mess that needs fixing, you have the answer right there too: Because the devs who fixed it the last time got fired and replaced with rookies.
Yep, there's a reason they don't teach actual labor history or the idea of collective bargaining in school (at least in the US, I know this is in regards to a Polish company, but I suspect it is similar). They want compliant workers who are just smart enough to run the machines, but not smart enough to sit around the kitchen table and realize how badly they've been getting fucked for seventy years (To paraphrase George Carlin). They make sure this kind of material isn't taught so there is always a steady supply of starry eyed youths who don't know any better.
Mind, I am not blaming young people who want to create games. They lack the experience to know they are getting exploited. It’s all the cynicism of managers who know no loyalty and only want profits.
I blame them at least a little. CS professors give students ample warnings and the industry's bad reputation isn't a secret. There a variety of outcomes....
- listen and steer clear entirely
- listen but decide to do it anyway. They do research on potential employers, their work culture etc. and they have standards.
- Ignore the warnings or be willing to do game dev no matter the cost
The second group will be fine and knows when/if they need to call it quits or look elsewhere. The real problem is the third group.