Some Red Dead devs feel that crunch is mandatory, but Rockstar disagrees

Overtime crunch at Red Dead Redemption II developer Rockstar Games is mandatory, according to three sources familiar with the studio (one current and two former). Or, at least, many employees felt it was an expected and required part of their job even if the studio avoided explicitly stating that is the case.

Developers are crunching at both Rockstar’s quality-assurance office in the U.K. as well as the New York office. A recent Kotaku report echoed what sources have told me and revealed the studio is clarifying that its overtime schedule is not required. In a comment provided to GamesBeat, Rockstar confirms that it has asked people to work longer hours. But it takes issue with the suggestion that it was not each individual’s choice to do so.