US video game publisher and developer Riot Games, behind the famed “League of Legends,” announced Monday that it has agreed to pay $ 100 million to end sex discrimination lawsuits.
The complaint was originally filed by two former employees in 2018, who claimed to be victims of discrimination and sexual harassment within Riot Games.
In detail, Riot Games will pay $ 80 million to members of a class action lawsuit initiated in 2018, including hundreds of former and current employees, the California-based company said in a statement.
Another $ 20 million will be dedicated to plaintiffs’ legal fees, she added. The agreement has yet to be approved by the court, a hearing being scheduled in the coming months, according to the American group.
The company will also have its internal reports and pay equity processes audited by a third party for three years.
The group said they were “at the heart of what has become a challenge for our industry”, and assured that they have chosen to “correct the situation and build a better Riot”.
“Although we are proud of the progress made since 2018, we must also take responsibility for the past,” he added.
Earlier this year, a former employee sued the video game publisher and her French boss, Nicolo Laurent, accusing the manager of sexual harassment and sexist comments.
An independent review, however, concluded in March that there was no evidence to support the charges.
The deal comes shortly after Activision Blizzard, another US video game giant, faced protests and legal action from its employees, exposing a culture of sexist and toxic harassment against women .