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Obsidian Faces California Class Action Over Alleged Wage-and-Hour Violations

A court decision could reshape pay and break practices for game-studio workers in California.

Overview

  • The suit was first filed in Orange County in October 2025 and an amended complaint was lodged on January 12, 2026 to expand the claims and proposed class.
  • Plaintiff Victoria Turner alleges a systematic pattern of violations, including unpaid minimum and overtime wages, late or missing final pay, denied meal and rest breaks, unreimbursed business expenses, and inaccurate wage statements.
  • The proposed class covers current and former non-exempt Obsidian employees who worked in California from October 9, 2021 through the date of class certification, with a separate group for those who left on or after October 9, 2022.
  • Obsidian formally denied all allegations in an early March response, asked the court to dismiss the case, and outlined a 38-point defense that includes claims some employees consented or acquiesced to the challenged practices.
  • The case remains pending with no settlement or trial date reported and could affect worker pay practices at the studio and across the broader Microsoft/Xbox-owned developer community if it proceeds to class certification or resolution.