Game developers and corporations like Grand Theft Auto’s parent company Take-Two Interactive are shifting their perspective on remote-work amid the coronavirus outbreak by allowing more personnel to work from home. Recent health concerns have affected both gaming and industry events, resulting in event rescheduling or cancellations altogether. With reports of confirmed cases of COVID-19 popping up in previously unaffected areas, game companies are looking to mitigate long term health concerns.
Historically, game developers are known to endure rigorous and dedicated work schedules. Companies profiting off the unrelenting work ethics of their employees are known to have a dislike for remote-work. In 2018, reports surfaced of personnel working six-day work weeks and wracking up 100+ hours of work at the office. The notion that remote-work is inefficient is hard-coded into the minds of many industry professionals. However, companies are pivoting to a more open work environment as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to make waves.
According to Gamasutra, Take-Two (T2) Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke openly about the future of remote-workers at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. He stated the on-going outbreak will eventually make believers out of remote-work skeptics. “One unexpected consequence [of the outbreak] is a lot of us who are skeptical about remote work are gonna be less skeptical about it,” Zelnick said. Take-Two Interactive is a leading developer, publisher, and marketer for interactive media. The company’s games are published by their labels Rockstar Games and 2k. T2’s CEO admits that he isn’t a proponent of remote-work himself, but he foresees the possibility of needing to allow personnel to stay home.
His statement comes as a response to a question concerning whether or not T2 intends game developers to begin working remotely, and whether or not he predicts this will affect productivity in the workplace. Previously reports have surfaced that the cornoavirus could even affect the production the PS5 and Xbox Series X game consoles. However, this particular question was geared toward Take-Two’s staff in California specifically. Zelnick says if the situation were to arise, employees would need to find a way to be productive. “They’re gonna have to find a way to be just as productive at home,” he said. “We have access to technology.”
T2’s growing acceptance of remote-work comes at a time when other companies have already implemented extended periods of remote-work made available to personnel. Bungie, developer of games like Halo and Destiny, has already activated preventative measures to ensure their staff’s safety. They’ve initiated a remote-work system and policy for Bungie employees around the world. Likewise, Microsoft has followed suit in a similar fashion, providing remote-work options to their employees. Hopefully, this new standard companies put in place due to the coronavirus will continue, and allow more companies like Grand Theft Auto’s Take-Two Interactive to feel comfortable with their employees working remotely.
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Source: Gamasutra
