Rocksteady, the studio behind a Suicide Squad game set to be unveiled at DC Fandome this weekend, has released a new statement on recent allegations made against the company. This last statement differs from the previous two in that it is much longer, and is written on behalf of the company itself instead of some of its staff.
The company received a collective letter from several female employees complaining about a culture of harassment in 2018. The statement posted after Twitter says it took that letter as a call to action. It outlines the steps the company took in response to that complaint, from meeting with female employees to investigating abuse to inviting feedback on the behavior and portrayal of female characters.
It also says it has hired an independent third party to talk to female employees in case anyone is hesitant to come to their employer, and it will encourage other employees who have been left over in recent years to speak with the organization of third parties as well.
“At the moment we are as passionate as ever about creating an inclusive culture and we are listening well,” the statement concluded. “We are determined to stand up for our staff, and to stand firm against any unacceptable behavior.”
The preliminary statement, given to The Guardian as part of its reporting, was brief and stated that the company had taken steps in response but did not provide details. The company also published an unsolicited letter saying it had received from female employees, including many of those who filed the first complaint, and said the culture in the studio had improved. Those employees also said they felt their “privacy and wishes were being ignored” since the existence of the initial letter of 2018 was intended to remain a private matter.
In response to the Guardian report, one former writer of the game Suicide Squad, Kim MacAskill, asked to be removed from the credits. She left the company in 2019.
The game Suicide Squad has long been rumored, but WB and Rocksteady have only recently revealed it in preparation for appearing on the DC Fandome schedule. That planned event is called Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, but it is unclear if that is the actual game title. A piece of key art appears to show crosshairs aimed at Superman’s head.
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