Earlier this week technology and gaming publication Kotaku published a report alleging several acts of sexual misconduct at Nintendo and its US-based operations in particular, adding that the company suffered from a toxic workplace culture akin to what we have seen from Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft in recent years.

It has become an all too familiar incident in the gaming industry and according to reports, Nintendo is wasting no time in investigating the allegations. In a follow up story, Kotaku says it has gained access to an internal message sent out by Nintendo of America’s president Doug Bowser regarding the situation.

“We have and will always investigate any allegations we become aware of, and we are actively investigating these most recent claims,” Bowser is said to have written to employees.

“We have strict policies designed to protect our employees and associates from inappropriate conduct and expect full compliance with these policies by all who work for or with us,” Bowser added.

At the time of writing, Nintendo is yet to official comment on the initial Kotaku report, where it is alleged that female contractors hired as game testers were sexually harassed by managers at the company’s Redmond-based headquarters in Seattle.

“Please remember that our HR teams are here to support you,” continued Bowser.

“If you experience, have experienced, witness, or have witnessed anything concerning such behavior that is contrary to our Standards of Conduct, employee handbook, or Company Values, please immediately contact your HR Business Partner,” he concluded.

Whether this is simply Nintendo trying to get ahead of the scandal or a genuine attempt to address a toxic work culture remains to be seen.

Given how other gaming companies have handled their respective incidents so far, with Activision Blizzard handling the allegations internally and Ubisoft getting executives to resign, we don’t hold out much hope.

[Source – Kotaku]