A new report claims that Naughty Dog recently mandated that workers return to the office five days per week–up from three–and had been pushing staff to work “long hours” to get a demo of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet ready to show off to Sony higher-ups.
The Bloomberg report said that beginning in late October, Naughty Dog asked staff to work “a minimum of eight extra hours a week” and document their overtime in a spreadsheet. “This overtime period was an attempt to get the production back on track after several missed deadlines,” the report said.
Workers were told to not work more than 60 hours per week, the report said. The return-to-office mandate was disruptive to some workers who reportedly had to find cover for childcare and their pets. The report added that the “mandated overtime” period wrapped up this week with the completion of the demo.
It’s interesting to hear about Naughty Dog’s plans for a mid-2027 release. The ongoing discussions about workplace conditions are important and it’s crucial for companies to prioritize their employees’ well-being while working on exciting projects. Looking forward to seeing how this all unfolds!