Gearbox Software

Texas
Media and Entertainment

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

Gearbox Software has not terminated business relationships for any ideological reason. However, the company has used its corporate reputation to oppose bills in its home state of Texas requiring transgender people to compete in sports and use bathrooms according to their biological sex. The company threatened to invest in other states if the bills became law. Former CEO Randy Pitchford has donated to a company-organized campaign on GoFundMe supporting trans rights. The company does not have viewpoint protections for its employees. For these reasons, Gearbox Software receives a "Medium Risk" rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

There are no publicly known cases of Gearbox Software terminating business relationships due to religious or political beliefs.

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Gearbox Software does not have a charitable foundation.

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Gearbox Software does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Gearbox Software signed onto a letter opposing “bathroom bills” in the state of Texas. Additionally, the company has issued statements against the Texas state legislature’s efforts to protect the integrity of elections (1). In 2020, Gearbox delayed the release of an update for their game “Borderlands 3” to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement (2). The company threatened to invest in states other than Texas if the state passed a law requiring transgender athletes to compete in sports corresponding to their biological sex (3)(4).

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Gearbox Software does not have a corporate charity. Employees have launched crowdfunding initiatives in support of some partisan causes, such as the Gearbox for Trans Rights GoFundMe. Former CEO Randy Pitchford matched up to a $10k donation to the campaign (1).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Gearbox Software does not have an active PAC or make political donations.

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 24, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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