Cyberpunk 2077 developer will force six-day weeks leading up to launch
After previously saying it would not require crunch.
Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has told employees it will require them to work six-day weeks until the game's November launch, breaking a previous promise not to force compulsory overtime to finish the project.
"Starting today, the entire studio is in overdrive," CD Projekt Red boss Adam Badowski told employees via email on Monday, as revealed by Bloomberg [paywall].
"I take it upon myself to receive the full backlash for the decision," Badowski continued. "I know this is in direct opposition to what we've said about crunch. It's also in direct opposition to what I personally grew to believe a while back - that crunch should never be the answer. But we've extended all other possible means of navigating the situation."
Originally announced in 2012, Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed multiple times already - most recently from April to September, and then to its current 19th November date.
It will launch for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One this year, before work will continue on a PS5 and Xbox Series X version next year, which will be offered as a free upgrade.
This new, compulsory overtime will be paid, as is required by Polish law, but comes after many employees were reportedly working long hours already.
Today, Badowski responded to Bloomberg's report via Twitter with the following statement:
"These last six weeks are our final sprint on a project we've all spent much of our lives on. Something we care for deeply. The majority of the team understands that push, especially in light of the fact that we've just sent the game to cert and every day brings us visibly closer to shipping a game we want to be proud of.
"This is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make, but everyone is well compensated for every extra hour they put in. And, like in recent years, 10 per cent of the annual profit our company generates in 2020 will be split directly among the team."
