The New York Times report offers interesting conclusions about the current situation. According to informants, some studios decide to take radical steps.
Jason Schreier is undoubtedly one of the most famous and informed journalists in the gaming industry. Reports published over the years in the pages of, among others, “Kotak” have proven themselves more than once. For this reason, despite the lack of official information, it is worth reading his latest report published in The New York Times .
Not surprisingly, video game sales increased significantly during the pandemic. In most countries, it is recommended to stay home at last, which can be seen in the record-breaking activity of users on Steam. However, the production of upcoming titles has become a problem. Remote work from home significantly slows down the work of developers. Swen Vincke from the Larian Games studio ( Baldur’s Gate 3 ) admitted that despite initially successful work, the following weeks showed the disadvantages of the so-called home office . Some employees have to devote more time to children and household chores, which has resulted in significantly shorter working hours. So it’s no surprise that more games like The Last of Us 2 are delayed.
However, Schreier argues that delay is not an option for all studies. Anonymous sources from two different studios revealed that some of the content of the upcoming titles (entire levels and quests) is being cut because there is no consent to change the deadline . These reports are all the more worrying that the practice may have a negative impact on the quality of the upcoming productions.