[Karawebnetwork]

> They’re likely earning ~40-70k so the shift isn’t very significant

Exactly. I don't work in the video-game industry, but the local (Québec) programmer scene is pretty small and information travels fast.

I've been told by people that work there that the employer already pays the equivalent of a 4 day week and that many employees are quitting now that WFH has opened up the market.

My personal understanding is that instead of increasing the pay, they are betting that by cutting a day, people will stay and keep the same level of crunch time.

[NortySpock]

"Crunch, and also crunch on Friday, which you now 'have off' but since you are (by design, perpetually) behind, we're going to need you to come in."

[908B64B197]

> My personal understanding is that instead of increasing the pay, they are betting that by cutting a day, people will stay and keep the same level of crunch time.

How's the option package?

A credible company will have most employees in the core business getting the majority of their revenue from the stock performance. Switching to 4 days a week should lower the number of release they can have per year...

[vvanders]

Stock, I the game industry? That's a riot.

In my time in that industry the only bonus/non-salary compensation I ever saw was a $20 Starbucks gift card for pulling a 90hr week before a major demo deadline.

[sdf131]

Stock options aren’t a thing in the game industry

[bananaboy]

That's not true. They are available if you work for the bigger publishers.

[908B64B197]

That's a red flag.

[ornornor]

The whole video game industry is a red flag. It’s notorious for underpaying, demanding insanely long hours, and treating people like subhumans.

[Darmody]

I'd say that happens for 2 reasons.

    1. Video games are really hard and costly to make and unless you're a big known company, nothing assures you'll get your money back

    2. It's a dream job for a lot of young programmers, so they'll accept anything.

[ornornor]

I’m sure they have very good reasons for exploiting people, whatever these reasons may be it doesn’t change the fact that video game companies are not good places to work at for the most part.