In a new report by Kotaku, Riot Games is accused of promoting a sexist work culture among its employees – a workforce in which men outnumber women 4 to 1. The outlet spoke to 28 sources for the piece detailing instances of sexual discrimination and harassment at the company, including allegations against upper-level management.
As described by several former and current “Rioters,” the company is allegedly home to an oppressive “bro culture” that stifles women’s voices – with a picture painted of a workplace where male employees talk over women who are forced to either accept it or leave.
Others noted the inequality of the hiring process at the studio, where men are more likely to “fit the culture” of the company than women. Several of Kotaku’s sources described the inherent gatekeeping and divisiveness of the company’s recruitment policy – that is, that Riot only hires hardcore male gamers (the article notes that Riot has walked back this philosophy in the last few months), leaving female candidates open to questions about whether they’re “real gamers” at all.
One woman recalled a job interview in which she was asked several questions about World Of Warcraft to prove that she was actually a gamer: “I was trying to prove to this executive that I wasn’t lying about playing games… Should I just ask this guy to log onto my World Of Warcraft profile?”
Another woman described an interview during which she was asked how big her “e-peen” was, a vulgar question meant to challenge whether she was truly a gamer.
Instances of sexual misconduct were also reported by Kotaku’s sources. One former employee claims that, after rejecting the advances of a male superior, she was pushed out of the running for a promotion she had rightfully earned. The report notes several other instances when men were promoted over women on the basis of a “meritocracy,” a workplace philosophy the company allegedly pushes to keep male employees in power.
Riot responded to Kotaku’s report in a statement to ESPN:
This article shines a light on areas where we haven’t lived up to our own values, which will not stand at Riot. We’ve taken action against many of the specific instances in the article, and we’re committed to digging in, addressing every issue, and fixing the underlying causes. All Rioters must be accountable for creating an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to be heard, grow their role, advance in the organization, and fulfill their potential.
Corporate communications lead Joe Hixson also posted a longer statement from the company to Kotaku, part of which was excerpted in the original report. You can read the statement in full on Reddit.