2019-07-01_PC_Gamer

ABOVE:Leagueof
Legendsremainsan
esportsfavourite.

LEFT:Riotstill
prefersnewhiresto
becoreLoLplayers.

discriminationandtoelicitrealchange.Someparticipants

ofthewalkoutexpressedtheirwishtoshowsolidarity

withtheplaintiffs.Otherswishedtovoicetheir

dissatisfactionatthecurrentstateofaffairs,asseveral

executivesmentionedfortheirquestionablebehaviourin

theinitialreportstillremainatRiot.

A BALANCEDRIOT

FollowingtheannouncementofthewalkoutinlateApril,

Riotoutlinedsomeupcoming30, 60 and90-dayplansto

updatetheircodeofconductina blogpostentitled“Our

CommitmentsonArbitrationandNextStepsfor

[Diversity&Inclusion]”.Theblogpoststatesthatafter

currentlitigationis resolved,newhireswillhavethe

opportunitytooptoutofmandatoryarbitrationfor

individualsexualassaultandsexualharassmentclaims.In

thiscaseforcedarbitrationwouldstillapplytoclaimsfor

otherformsofharassment,discrimination,retaliationand

wagesdue,allofwhichareexplicitlylistedinRiot

contractsaccordingtoKotaku.Withthenewmeasures

Riotplanstoacceleratediversityandinclusionefforts

suchasanti-harassmenttraining,previouslyannouncedin

February2019,anda payequityanalysis,amongothers.

Theorganisersofthewalkout,however,arecallingforthe

endofforcedarbitrationforallcurrentemployeesand

contractors,andhaveannouncedfurtheractionshould

Riot not commit to changing its stance on arbitration.

The Riot walkout is not the first of its kind in the

gaming industry but it is the first protest of this scaleto

address the company culture and gender disparity ata

studio. That Riot dropped the ball on its D&I measures

again doesn’t leave one particularly hopeful, but the

continued scrutiny on the company may yet turn thetide.

Malindy Hetfeld

Highs&Lows

HIGHS

Minecraft

Thankstoa hugecontentupdate,

Minecraftnowhasvillages,pandas,

manynewblocksandmore.

PlatinumGames

Hintedattwonewgames,describing

themassomethingthat’s“never

beendesignedbefore”.Ambitious!

Microsoft

Publishedcharminglyold-fashioned

examplesofacceptabletrashtalk,

including“getwrecked”.

RandyPitchford

TheGearboxCEOis havinga month

onTwitter,firstwitha kerfuffle over

microtransactionsinBorderlands 3,

followedbyassaultclaims.

EchoFox

FormerNBAproRickFoxis leaving

esportsorganisationEchoFox over

aninvestor’sracialslur.

TheSonicMovie

SinceSoniclooksaboutasbad as

expected,he’sgettinga redesign.

LOWS

We’reless than a month
awayfrom the ridiculous
spectacle of E3. This year’s
show will likely be dominated
by talk of the next console generation,
but PC fans still have lots to look forward
to, includingourownPC Gaming Show,
which will streamingon Twitch on June
10, 6pm BST. PS

ELECTRIC THREE

PCGS 2019

DOG DAYS

JOHNWICKHEX

Respawnissetto reveal Star

WarsJedi:Fallen Order

footage at EA’s E

conference. I, forever

thirsting for a current gen single player

Star Wars experience, am unabashedly

excited.It’sa)StarWars,a universeall

buttailor-madeforgamesandb)

Respawnhasyettoletmedown. MH

FORCEFUL ENTRANCE

FALLEN ORDER

Action movie series John

Wick is being turned into a

game. Called John Wick

Hex and developed by

Bithell Games, it’s a fast-paced

turn-based strategy game,

which feels like a perfect fit for

the dog-loving assassin’s brand of

choreographed, gun-based action. AK

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