Activision
Workplace misconductCrunchLarge layoffs
1 game in the guide · 8 events on record →Who makes it
The companies behind the games
Who makes a game can matter as much as how it charges you. Each profile collects a company's track record, from regulator fines and court cases to child-safety failures, labour disputes and the good it does too, every item with a source, so you can make your own choice.
Harmful
Serious findings
A regulator, court or settlement dealt with serious harm: to children, through deceptive purchase design, or to staff through harassment or discrimination.
Caution
Penalties and ties
Formal action over loot boxes, privacy or misleading marketing, or ownership ties to real-money gambling.
Watch
Worth knowing
Problems that are common in the industry but still matter: crunch, labour disputes, large layoffs, shut-down games and competition cases.
Fair
Good practice
A record that counts in its favour: pay-once games, independence, published odds, no loot boxes, keeping old games playable.
Company badges use the money-rating colours as a track-record scale. They attach to the company, not to its games, and never change a game's money verdict or addictive-design score. No badge rests on a ruling that is still under appeal. What each badge means
Every company in the guide · 58
Worst badge first, then A to Z.
Blizzard Entertainment
Workplace misconductLoot-box actionShut down paid games
4 games in the guide · 8 events on record →Epic Games
Child safetyDark patternsLoot-box actionCrunchLarge layoffsShut down paid games
1 game in the guide · 8 events on record →HoYoverse
Child safetyLoot-box actionMisleading ads
2 games in the guide · 1 event on record →Microsoft Gaming (Xbox)
Child safetyLarge layoffsCompetition law
0 games in the guide · 8 events on record →Moon Active
Child safety
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Riot Games
Workplace misconductLabour disputeLarge layoffsPublishes odds
1 game in the guide · 7 events on record →Roblox Corporation
Child safety
1 game in the guide · 8 events on record →Electronic Arts
Loot-box actionCrunchLarge layoffsShut down paid gamesCompetition law
5 games in the guide · 8 events on record →Psyonix
Loot-box actionShut down paid gamesNo loot boxes
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →Rockstar Games
Misleading adsCrunchShut down paid games
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →Sony Interactive Entertainment
Privacy penaltyMisleading adsLarge layoffs
1 game in the guide · 8 events on record →Take-Two Interactive
Misleading adsLarge layoffs
0 games in the guide · 5 events on record →Valve
Loot-box actionMisleading adsCompetition law
3 games in the guide · 8 events on record →Warner Bros. Games
Misleading adsLabour disputeShut down paid gamesKeeps games playable
1 game in the guide · 8 events on record →Zynga
Privacy penaltyLarge layoffs
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →2K
Shut down paid games
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Bandai Namco Entertainment
Competition law
2 games in the guide · 5 events on record →DeNA
Competition law
1 game in the guide · 4 events on record →DICE
Shut down paid games
1 game in the guide · 4 events on record →id Software
CrunchLarge layoffsKeeps games playable
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →King
Large layoffs
1 game in the guide · 6 events on record →Niantic
Large layoffs
1 game in the guide · 8 events on record →Nintendo
Labour disputeShut down paid gamesCompetition lawPublishes odds
9 games in the guide · 8 events on record →Raven Software
Labour dispute
1 game in the guide · 4 events on record →Tencent
Competition law
0 games in the guide · 8 events on record →ConcernedApe
Pay-once houseIndependent
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →Hazelight Studios
Independent
1 game in the guide · 2 events on record →Innersloth
Independent
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Larian Studios
Pay-once houseIndependent
1 game in the guide · 4 events on record →LocalThunk
Pay-once houseIndependent
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →Team Cherry
Pay-once houseIndependent
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Atari
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →Avalanche Software
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 2 events on record →Creatures Inc.
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 0 events on record →Dream Games
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 1 event on record →FromSoftware
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Game Freak
No track-record badges yet.
2 games in the guide · 1 event on record →Infinity Ward
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Jagex
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →Kiloo
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Maxis
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Mojang Studios
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →NetEase
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 4 events on record →Nuverse
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Plarium
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Playstack
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 2 events on record →Polyphony Digital
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Respawn Entertainment
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 5 events on record →Scopely
No track-record badges yet.
2 games in the guide · 2 events on record →Second Dinner
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Sky Mavis
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 3 events on record →Skystone Games
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 1 event on record →Supercell
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 6 events on record →SYBO Games
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 1 event on record →Taito
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 1 event on record →The Pokémon Company
No track-record badges yet.
2 games in the guide · 4 events on record →Visual Concepts
No track-record badges yet.
1 game in the guide · 2 events on record →