"They often don’t make it in the door": Wardogs studio Bulkhead check for "anti-crunch messaging" on prospective hires' social media, CEO says
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer has revealed that the studio behind recent FPS hit Wardogs check the social media accounts of prospective hires for public criticism of crunch practices, and deliberately prefer to avoid bringing such folks on board. In the exec's view, devs working extra or long hours to get a game or update out of the door - otherwise known as crunch - "is going to happen at some…
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer has disclosed that the studio, behind the popular FPS title Wardogs, scrutinizes potential hires' social media profiles to identify any criticism of "crunch" practices. Crunch, defined as developers working extended or additional hours to complete games or updates, is an inevitability in the industry. While Brammer acknowledges the studio's efforts to avoid crunch, he asserts that those who openly criticize it on social media may not align with the company's culture.
Brammer's comments, made in an interview with The Game Business, suggest that such individuals may not be suitable for the company's environment, referencing a preference for fostering a work-hard culture. This stance implies that anti-crunch advocates may not feel valued by the studio, as opposed to being hired as an act of goodwill.
Brammer argues that the demanding nature of the work is offset by competitive compensation, although some staff members do not receive bonuses or share ownership. In a subsequent tweet, Brammer clarified that his remarks on crunch were not intended to start a public debate, despite the interview's context suggesting otherwise. He also detailed other aspects of Bulkhead's operations, including a month-long December break and a 50% implementation of a four-day workweek during Wardogs development.
Written by urgent.news from Rock Paper Shotgun's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
