Pros
My name is Mirko Gozzo and I work in the Sydney office of Riot games. Before Sydney, Riot gave me the opportunity to work for the European Office and in the Santa Monica Office. I've been in Riot for a total of 2 and a half years.
I know that most of the review on Glassdoor are positive and I'm aware that not everyone can be as engaged in the workplace but there is a difference between not being engaged and lying.
I've just read couple of reviews from ex-employee and I decided to post mine because it hurts me reading untrue things about the company I work for and I love.
The company is great, period. The list of pro is nowhere close to the list of things that can be improved.
- The culture is great. I know that every company has a mission statement, some closer or less to the reality of things but in Riot we live by our mission statement and we embrace our manifesto. For example one of the value closer to me is "player experience first" and "Take play seriously". The big majority of us are gamers. This means that not only we love League of Legends and we like play together but also that we feel the pain of our players when something goes wrong.
- There are plenty of opportunities to grow in so many directions (horizontally, vertically and internationally) and I'm the living example.
- The senior management is very open, transparent, available and above all "gamers like us". They have clear goals, they are so good in communicating them and they continue to improve the way they deliver and work together to define these goals.
- The organisation is very flat. Very little bureaucracy, processes and approvals. You do what you think is best for our players. Most of the time you do that, sometimes you don't. When you don't you learn and try again.
- It's the first company where "HQ" acknowledged they cannot be the expert in every region because each country is so different from North America. They hires talent and expert in key markets and trusts the local offices to do what's best for the game and players.
- The company cares about your significant other which makes things so much easier for us as well. My wife for example is not a gamer and she didn't really understand why "I wanted" to stay late at work to finish projects for our players (btw, nobody forces you nor nobody makes you feel bad if you leave at 6). Riot organise events for significant others and rioters. She was so astonished about the people she met and the passion we put into League of Legends that she now totally gets it (also we are not divorcing nor in any kind of crisis... we still love each other, and our son, very much)
- It's true, Riot doesn't mess around. You are either a high performer & culture fit or you will not succeed in Riot. I consider this a pro.
- Salaries are very competitive
- Perks are awesome.
Cons
Recruiting and onboarding process could be improved even more. I know we cannot have 100% success rate in hiring but when we do mistakes, we pay it and the negative reviews I've read, kind of prove this.
I wish there was an office in Italy so I could go back home.
