A final agreement could be reached between the plaintiffs and Riot Games in a class action lawsuit. The amount of this deal is several million dollars.
After years of legal battle, Riot Games has finally agreed to drop a class action lawsuit by paying an astronomical sum in damages to the plaintiffs. This story begins in 2018, when several women, employees of the studio known for its League of Legends universe, testified to having been victims of harassment and gender discrimination.
They then opened a class action suit, and in 2019, a first agreement was put on the table by Riot Games. The studio agreed to pay the plaintiffs $ 10 million to have the case closed. However, this sum did not satisfy the plaintiffs, who could ask for up to $ 400 million in this case. This is why today, Riot Games granted them, and rightly so, the final sum of $ 100 million.
What is Riot Games criticized for?
If this sum seems exorbitant, it allows to emphasize the seriousness of the problem, denounced by Kotaku a few years ago. In a detailed report, the media explained how Riot Games favored what is called “fraternity culture”. It is a term which designates the fact of always putting “the friends before the girls”, or in the professional framework, to favor the men to the women. Neither more nor less than sexist behavior, and condemnable as evidenced by this case.
Of the $ 100 million, $ 20 million will go directly to paying the plaintiffs’ legislative costs. For the rest, the sum will have to be shared among many employees. This concerns all employees and entrepreneurs of the Californian studio who identify as women, and who worked at Riot Games between November 2014 and today. Of course, the employee’s seniority is taken into account for the payment of the sum. Today, the number of people eligible for payment is 2300.
Towards radical change, and in the long term
Following this appeal, Riot Games will have to agree to open its doors to analysts to study the issue of “gender equity in total compensation, assignment and promotion of employees.” The company will also be closely monitored on these same issues, for a period of 3 years. A studio spokesperson said:
” We could deny the flaws in our culture, or we could apologize, put things right, and build a better Riot. We have chosen the latter option… Although we are proud of the progress made since 2018, we must also take responsibility for the past. “
As for the plaintiffs’ lawyer, he replied by explaining that “ It’s a big day for the women at Riot Games – and for the women of all video game and tech companies – who deserve a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. “
