I have been working at Riot Games full-time for more than 5 years
Pros
- Benefits
- Unlimited PTO
- Campus and free food
- Some super talented co-workers
Cons
-The company culture is a complete failure. It's mostly used in a weaponized way to win arguments.
Challenging convention is not a good idea at Riot, as well as giving negative feedback. You will be labeled as a negative, toxic person, and you won't be having an easy time with your team. The senior leadership, especially, doesn't take negative feedback very well, and is extremely good at dancing around issues and using their political skills. Agree with the leadership (or who's in touch with it), and everything will be alright.
Despite what the so-called "Riot Manifesto" says, titles count at Riot, and a lot of senior people leverage them (combined with Alpha behaviors, political games and back stabbing) to win arguments and keep their status.
"Hungry&Humble", I've seen many high-level people making fun of other companies and talking about Riot superiority, despite Riot constantly failing at delivering a second game in the last decade. Egos of a lot of people are way too big.
- Favoritism is a big issue in the company, a lot of people in the senior leadership are not qualified for their jobs and, despite their constant failures at what they're doing (and a lot of people under them having a hard time/losing their jobs), keep their positions because they're buddies with the owners. These people's accountability doesn't exist, which is very disrespectful for the other employees.
- In 4 years I've experienced and seen a lot of discrimination towards sex, race and nationality, by a lot of people who never faced consequences for their actions.
- Extreme corporate atmosphere, with a lot of bad politics happening.
- Being at Riot feels like being in a cult. Orientation ("De-Newbiefication" in the Riot language) is basically a full week of indoctrination. You're forced to wear an embarassing hat and, during one of the classes, you're asked to share a painful experience, in which you felt vulnerable (exactly like a lot of cults do). A lot of company gatherings in which a lot of hyperbolic (unrealistic, in reality), things about the company are said, to an audience wearing Riot clothes. Questioning stuff that Riot does (the game, esports, etc.) is perceived extremely negatively.
- If you're planning on building a portfolio, go somewhere else. Riot moves slowly, the amount of work and the quality of it will be not up to par with the current industry standards.
Hi,
I'm Michelle, a Talent Generalist at Riot.
First, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback.
It saddens me to hear that you have had a negative experience at Riot and I would really like the chance to sit down with you to discuss your comments in-depth.
Particularly, your comment that in your four years at Riot you have 'experienced and seen a lot of discrimination towards sex, race and nationality, by a lot of people who never faced consequences for their actions' is extremely concerning to me and definitely requires deeper discussion. I understand that Glassdoor provides an avenue to give feedback anonymously, though given the nature of the feedback you provided regarding behavior that would be in opposition of our Core Policies, we would really like to gather more details. Additionally, Riot has a policy against retaliation for any reporting Rioters. To be super clear: your position at work can't be impacted in any way if you make a report.
We want Riot to be a place where every Rioter is (and feels that they are) respected, equal, and safe. In order for us to provide follow-up and take action, please consider reaching out to me directly.
Thank you,
Michelle Torrence
mtorrence@riotgames.com
I have been working at Riot Games full-time for more than a year
Pros
- Surrounded by some of the most talented and intelligent individuals in tech, art, and creative.
- Tons of opportunities to learn and grow.
- Really competitive salary (still tough to survive in LA if you're not an engineer, but above the average for creative roles in LA).
- Amazing campus with free breakfast, lunch, and dinner; free full coffee bar; PC Bang; VR Room; and more.
- Fun events on campus.
- Lots of small perks like RP stipend, reimbursement for games every month, wellness, massage discount, on-site massages, free yoga classes, etc.
- A unique ability to find and carve out niche roles that really interest you. If you want to do a job, just do it.
- Work-life-balance isn't bad depending on what you do. It depends on you, your team, and your job.
Cons
- Happiness is team dependent. If you're on a team with inefficient management, your experience can be really unenjoyable.
- Salaries are low if you're not in engineering. Los Angeles is really expensive, and if you're not in tech you can forget ever buying a home or renting super close to the office.
- Things take a really long time.
- Riot can be an echo chamber. Everything happens in a bubble and it's hard sometimes to be the dissenting voice.
- There are people still in positions of power who have harassed individuals, blocked career growth and projects, and created unsafe work environments.
- Talent (HR) is ineffective. There have been numerous cases of clear violations that I've witnessed that have gone completely ignored.
- Lack of transparency when it comes to career progression, salary bands, and areas for growth.
Riot Games
Employee Review
"50% cult - 50% communist China"
I have been working at Riot Games full-time for more than 5 years
Pros
- Benefits - Unlimited PTO - Campus and free food - Some super talented co-workers
Cons
-The company culture is a complete failure. It's mostly used in a weaponized way to win arguments. Challenging convention is not a good idea at Riot, as well as giving negative feedback. You will be labeled as a negative, toxic person, and you won't be having an easy time with your team. The senior leadership, especially, doesn't take negative feedback very well, and is extremely good at dancing around issues and using their political skills. Agree with the leadership (or who's in touch with it), and everything will be alright. Despite what the so-called "Riot Manifesto" says, titles count at Riot, and a lot of senior people leverage them (combined with Alpha behaviors, political games and back stabbing) to win arguments and keep their status. "Hungry&Humble", I've seen many high-level people making fun of other companies and talking about Riot superiority, despite Riot constantly failing at delivering a second game in the last decade. Egos of a lot of people are way too big. - Favoritism is a big issue in the company, a lot of people in the senior leadership are not qualified for their jobs and, despite their constant failures at what they're doing (and a lot of people under them having a hard time/losing their jobs), keep their positions because they're buddies with the owners. These people's accountability doesn't exist, which is very disrespectful for the other employees. - In 4 years I've experienced and seen a lot of discrimination towards sex, race and nationality, by a lot of people who never faced consequences for their actions. - Extreme corporate atmosphere, with a lot of bad politics happening. - Being at Riot feels like being in a cult. Orientation ("De-Newbiefication" in the Riot language) is basically a full week of indoctrination. You're forced to wear an embarassing hat and, during one of the classes, you're asked to share a painful experience, in which you felt vulnerable (exactly like a lot of cults do). A lot of company gatherings in which a lot of hyperbolic (unrealistic, in reality), things about the company are said, to an audience wearing Riot clothes. Questioning stuff that Riot does (the game, esports, etc.) is perceived extremely negatively. - If you're planning on building a portfolio, go somewhere else. Riot moves slowly, the amount of work and the quality of it will be not up to par with the current industry standards.
Riot Games Response
April 26, 2018 – HR Generalist
Hi, I'm Michelle, a Talent Generalist at Riot. First, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. It saddens me to hear that you have had a negative experience at Riot and I would really like the chance to sit down with you to discuss your comments in-depth. Particularly, your comment that in your four years at Riot you have 'experienced and seen a lot of discrimination towards sex, race and nationality, by a lot of people who never faced consequences for their actions' is extremely concerning to me and definitely requires deeper discussion. I understand that Glassdoor provides an avenue to give feedback anonymously, though given the nature of the feedback you provided regarding behavior that would be in opposition of our Core Policies, we would really like to gather more details. Additionally, Riot has a policy against retaliation for any reporting Rioters. To be super clear: your position at work can't be impacted in any way if you make a report. We want Riot to be a place where every Rioter is (and feels that they are) respected, equal, and safe. In order for us to provide follow-up and take action, please consider reaching out to me directly. Thank you, Michelle Torrence mtorrence@riotgames.com
Other Employee Reviews
"Great company to work with. Most Excellent Perks"
I worked at Riot Games part-time for less than a year
Pros
Amazing campus with lots of great perks. Great vibe and people.
Cons
Challenging getting ahead (I was a short term contract position though)
"Solid place to work, very team dependent, and definitely unique"
I have been working at Riot Games full-time for more than a year
Pros
- Surrounded by some of the most talented and intelligent individuals in tech, art, and creative. - Tons of opportunities to learn and grow. - Really competitive salary (still tough to survive in LA if you're not an engineer, but above the average for creative roles in LA). - Amazing campus with free breakfast, lunch, and dinner; free full coffee bar; PC Bang; VR Room; and more. - Fun events on campus. - Lots of small perks like RP stipend, reimbursement for games every month, wellness, massage discount, on-site massages, free yoga classes, etc. - A unique ability to find and carve out niche roles that really interest you. If you want to do a job, just do it. - Work-life-balance isn't bad depending on what you do. It depends on you, your team, and your job.
Cons
- Happiness is team dependent. If you're on a team with inefficient management, your experience can be really unenjoyable. - Salaries are low if you're not in engineering. Los Angeles is really expensive, and if you're not in tech you can forget ever buying a home or renting super close to the office. - Things take a really long time. - Riot can be an echo chamber. Everything happens in a bubble and it's hard sometimes to be the dissenting voice. - There are people still in positions of power who have harassed individuals, blocked career growth and projects, and created unsafe work environments. - Talent (HR) is ineffective. There have been numerous cases of clear violations that I've witnessed that have gone completely ignored. - Lack of transparency when it comes to career progression, salary bands, and areas for growth.
Discover more reviews about Riot Games.