Riot Games agrees to pay $100M to settle a 2018 class-action gender discrimination lawsuit with current and former women employees and California state agencies
“League of Legends” publisher Riot Games announced Monday that it is settling a 2018 gender-based discrimination class-action suit …
Washington PostShannon Liao
Context & Ripple Effects
Riot’s $100M agreement closes a dispute that had already produced an earlier undisclosed class-action settlement and a California demand for employee pay data. The state’s participation turns the matter from an internal employment dispute into a case with active public enforcement.
Riot must fund the $100M settlement for current and former women employees and resolve claims involving California state agencies.
California secures a direct role in the outcome after seeking Riot’s pay records during its gender-discrimination probe.
Second-order effects
Riot’s earlier confidential resolution did not end the wider dispute; the larger agreement raises the cost for Riot of treating pay-equity and retaliation allegations as isolated litigation.
Other game publishers facing workplace complaints, including Activision Blizzard in the related coverage, face a clearer example of state agencies and employee claims advancing alongside one another.
Third-order effects
California’s progression from requesting pay data to joining a major settlement points toward employment-discrimination enforcement that combines company records, worker class actions, and state oversight.
For large game studios, workplace culture disputes are becoming governance and financial-liability issues rather than solely human-resources matters.
The trend: Game-industry workplace claims are increasingly being pursued through the combined leverage of employee litigation and state enforcement.
BREAKING NEWS: Riot Games settles the 2018 California gender discrimination suit for $100 million. $80 million will go to women employees and contractors at Riot who worked there between 2014 and now. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
This all seems like it's going the way it should. I'm sure no one is 100% happy about it all, but I really appreciate the seemingly honest acknowledgments & efforts on Riot's part. ABK & co should take notes... Also, third party monitoring is the way to go! https://www.washington…
In a Monday email to Riot employees that was obtained by @washingtonpost, executives said, “We want to acknowledge that the timing of this announcement isn't ideal. The final details of the agreement came together quickly, and we wanted you to hear about it from us directly.”
“As part of the settlement, Riot must be monitored by a third party for three years. That party will oversee human resource complaints, how they are handled and whether employees of all genders are being paid fairly.” Sounds like finally some accountability. https://twitter.com/.…
At least 2,300 employees are eligible for part of the $80 million that is going to members of the class-action suit. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Originally, Riot agreed to settle the suit in 2019 for $10 million, but California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing intervened, arguing that victims should be entitled to $400 million.
“This is a great day for the women of Riot Games - and for women at all video game and tech companies - who deserve a workplace that is free of harassment and discrimination,” said plaintiffs' counsel and employment and sexual harassment lawyer Genie Harrison.
This part of the article was my favorite part. I heard about this from mutuals so to even score an interview for *customer service*, I submitted my ex's Summoner tag and it worked 🙄 Did my job just fine and had a blast. Had plenty of background experience thanks to HOTS. https://…
Riot has settled discrimination claims for $100 million, which is 10x the amount they tried to settle for in 2019. There's been a lot of talk about Blizzard, but don't forget Riot's egregious history of mistreating women. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...