Riot Games

Riot Games became synonymous with toxic workplace culture after a 2018 Kotaku investigation exposed a sexist 'bro culture' where female employees faced harassment, including a senior leader accused of sexual assault and a workplace environment that tolerated public humiliation. The resulting gender discrimination lawsuit forced a $100 million settlement in 2021—the largest in California labor history—with 1,548 women receiving payouts averaging $32,000 each. This financial penalty exceeds the total compensation paid by #5 CD Projekt Red for its crunch controversies, and Riot's turnover rate among women was 80% higher than the industry average before the settlement. The company has since reformed, but the damage remains a stark reminder that even the creator of the world's most popular PC game can harbor systemic abuse.