The Reality of Making an AAA Video Game: Behind the Scenes

When gamers think of making an AAA video game, they often imagine a glamorous, creative, and collaborative process. However, the reality can be quite different.

The Nitty Gritty of AAA Game Development

As a game developer, my friend in Montreal explained that the world of AAA video game development is far from glamorous. For the vast majority of the team, it's more of a team effort where each individual is a small part of the process. Rarely do you get the opportunity to make big decisions or have a significant impact on the project. Your role is focused on completing your assignments on time and ensuring that your work is stable so that it doesn't break the game for everyone.

One of the biggest challenges my friend mentioned is the often dysfunctional and unpredictable nature of the development process due to poor management, lack of creative direction, and suboptimal technical choices. According to him, initiative often leads to burnout, while inaction just means you're stuck in development forever.

The Politics of Game Industry

The work environment in the gaming industry is fraught with political tensions. My friend elaborated on these issues, discussing everything from managerial shoddiness to toxic work colleagues, missed deadlines, and intense crunch times. He mentioned that it's common for people to be fired for small infractions while others receive chances for much bigger issues. This creates an environment where only those who are socially adept and politically savvy get rewarded, and it's rare for employees to receive raises based on merit.

The compensation in the industry is also often deemed insufficient, with CEOs earning hundreds of millions for the company while workers receive average pay. Even when there are opportunities for raises, it's often given to those who are popular rather than those whose skills are adequate. My friend also highlighted that overtime pay is not always guaranteed, and sometimes workers must fight with HR to receive what they've earned, or they could face worse jobs or even trouble if they complain too much.

The Tyranny of Political Correctness

The friend also spoke about the political correctness and sensitivity training that has become increasingly prevalent in the workplace. He recounted an incident where he had to take a sensitivity training seminar after calling a male colleague by the wrong gender identity. The environment has become so politically correct that every word can lead to trouble, and employees are now reporting colleagues for minor infractions. He jokingly compared his working environment to an episode of South Park.

Even the idea of working in free-to-play games with loot boxes and other economic models has become a point of contention. According to my friend, game designers who work on these types of games are rarely happy, and it goes against what they believe in. Many are forced to do this by management, which is ultimately controlled by the shareholders who prioritize profit over game quality. My friend mentioned that the blame lies squarely with the shareholders, who are only concerned with maximizing revenue.

My friend stated that he plans to leave his current job to work with smaller indie developers because he wants to design and work on games that align with his passion and values. He emphasized that the work environment is the main issue, and he can't continue to work in such an environment, especially with a family to support.

Conclusion

It's clear that the reality of making an AAA video game goes far beyond the romanticized version that gamers often imagine. The industry faces significant challenges, including poor management, political correctness, toxic work environments, and the prioritization of profit over quality. For true game designers and developers, the dream job is often a pipe dream, and the only way to thrive is by working in a more supportive and creative environment.