2019 seems to be the year of crunch and unhealthy work practices in the video game industry. Not because it?s just now happening for the first time, but because many former and current developers are speaking out against companies that have allegedly mistreated them or mishandled issues in the workplace. The latest report comes from US Gamer, and it covers the alleged poor work practices at NetherRealm Studios, the team behind Mortal Kombat and Injustice.
The report highlights issues from the point of view of four former NetherRealm contractors, all of which wished to remain unnamed, for fear of retaliation. The crux is that contractors are useful to the company because they don?t receive benefits, are paid far less, and can be motivated by the reward of eventually being a full-time employee.
Many new college grads just trying to break into the video game industry are hired at NetherRealm as contractors, 75% of which are reportedly ?first-time employees.? Being new to the industry, some contractors are willing to deal with discomfort at first, because it might mean they?ll get hired on as full-time employees later. Here?s a snippet from US Gamer?s report:

Another source said that the ?lowest tier of contractor employees were put in the same windowless room,? a box-like, renovated garage that was often filled to the brim with temp workers.

Even more damning is the small amount of pay pay contractors receive, getting as little as $12 an hour. This is the minimum wage in Ch...