I don't think a lot of Gamers™ realize just how big a problem crunch is for gaming as a whole, and it shows. Crunch means that gaming is facing a constant brain drain, with talented and experienced people constantly leaving for other industries because they were burned out.

Do you have any idea how many former games industry folks I know who've been broken by abusive practices, and left for careers in fintech, telecommunications, IT, etc? Artists who make more money taking commissions from furries? It's far, far more than it should be.

And even after that a lot of them still wished they had careers in gaming, but couldn't go back to an industry that can only promise a detriment to their physical and mental health, and one that will make them redundant in 2-3 years time when the project they're working on ships.

Even regardless of the crunch, people can't live having to secure employment every few years, in an industry where it's routine to lay off developers after a game's shipped. So they take up employment in other sectors where they can actually have a career and job security.

But you know who does get to have a career in the games industry? The Serge Hascoets of this world. The abusive pricks who make life hell for those working under them.

People who are talented are slowly bleeding from the industry, but the managers responsible stick around.

Talent flees, but abusers get rewarded. Keep in mind, it was reported that Michel Ansel had to have a team of 19 people just to keep him in check and limit his damage to those working under him. This is an industry that is dysfunctional at the top level. https://twitter.com/erwancario/status/1309518690006822917?s=20

A lot of people seem to think crunch is the optimal way to produce games. That it's a sacrifice people have to make in order for great art. But it isn't. Needing an entire team to reign in one serial abuser is a gigantic waste of resources, and no way for a company to operate.