It is times like this we wish the superheroes we grow up watching are actually real to save the day.
According to a new report by The Guardian, several female employees at Rocksteady Studios, the developer behind the Batman: Arkham game series, sent a letter to management about 2 years ago accusing the studio of failing to prevent sexual harassment and sexism in the workplace.
The letter, reportedly sent to management back in November 2018, was signed by 10 of the 16 women employed at the studio in London. Several issues addressed in the management letter include ongoing unprofessional behaviour within the office, such as derogatory and sexually explicit remarks about women, and various forms of sexual harassment “in the form of unwanted advances, leering in parts of the body of a woman, and inappropriate comments in the office.”
One person who signed the letter said that sexual misconduct had also bled into the studio’s projects, claiming that designs were highly sexualised for several characters, including our beloved villains Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy.
What did the studios have to say about this? Well a Rocksteady spokesperson acknowledged that it had received several complaints about inappropriate behaviour in the workplace saying that the studio set out to create a place where people are looked after, a place fundamentally built on respect and inclusion.
“In 2018 we received a letter from some of our female employees expressing concerns they had at that time, and we immediately took firm measures to address the matters that were raised. Over the subsequent two years we have carefully listened to and learned from our employees, working to ensure every person on the team feels supported”, said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson ended the statement by saying Rocksteady Studios is more passionate than ever to continue to develop its inclusive culture and determined to stand up for all of its staff. I don’t buy it.
If they were really passionate and determined, they would’ve actually done something 2 years ago but it took them 2 years to speak about it after being publicly accused. Alright then. You are a studio that developed superhero games that brings evil to justice yet you’re not doing anything to save those in your own company? Ask yourselves this; What would Batman do? Something has to be done.
