Obsidian Entertainment is facing a class action lawsuit in California that alleges systematic violations of state wage and hour laws. The lawsuit, initiated in October and amended in January, claims the RPG studio engaged in a pattern of misconduct designed to increase its profits.
The suit was filed by plaintiff Victoria Turner, identified as a QA lead on The Outer Worlds 2. The proposed class includes current and former non-exempt employees of Obsidian in California, spanning from October 2021 to the present, with an additional proposed class for those who left employment on or after October 2022.
Allegations detailed in the amended complaint include failure to pay all wages, including minimum wage and overtime, as well as wages due upon separation. The suit also claims that Obsidian did not provide timely payments during employment, failed to offer lawful meal and rest breaks or compensation in lieu thereof, did not reimburse necessary business expenses, and did not provide accurate itemized wage statements.
Obsidian Entertainment has formally responded to the allegations, generally and specifically denying each claim. In its defense, the studio presented 38 points, including an assertion that employees consented to or acquiesced in the conduct now complained of by the plaintiff.
The case has seen little significant movement since Obsidian's response was filed in early March. This lawsuit emerges despite a 2019 statement from Obsidian senior designer Brian Hines, who told PCGamesN that the studio was not a "crunch studio" and that any requests for additional hours were occasional, short-term, and voluntary.