Balancing Ambition and Wellness: Larian Studios' Approach to Reducing Crunch in Baldur's Gate 3 Development

The development period for Baldur's Gate 3 saw a reduction in the intense work periods known as crunch time compared to previous projects by Larian Studios, as confirmed by the game's director. At the Digital Dragons symposium hosted in Poland, Swen Vincke, the overseer of Baldur's Gate 3, divulged various hurdles the team navigated while crafting the video game. One particular moment of pride turned into an immediate regret for him during a question-and-answer segment when the topic of crunch time arose. Swen Vincke candidly acknowledged that Baldur's Gate 3's production did indeed involve crunch time but to a lesser degree than past endeavors. "Certainly, it would be inaccurate to claim it was entirely absent. Unanticipated developments did occur," Vincke stated. Larian's global presence, featuring studios around the world, was a strategic approach to offer around-the-clock development support, minimizing the need for any single individual to extend their work hours unexpectedly due to issues arising during off-hours. This setup includes the opening of a new studio in Warsaw, Poland, aiming to bolster the development efforts for the company's new, ambitious RPG titles. Moreover, Vincke highlighted that compensating for overtime was a way to alleviate the impact of extended work hours, suggesting that the experiences of crunch on Baldur's Gate 3 might not align with traditional notions of prolonged crunch periods. Post 8 pm, office occupancy dwindled, with weekend work being an extreme rarity. "Overextending was not our norm," Vincke remarked, "but a certain level of extended effort was indeed necessary. I believe that a small degree of this is inevitable when piecing together a project of considerable complexity." Despite these challenges, Baldur's Gate 3 has emerged as one of the standout gaming achievements of 2023.