Female employees of Activision Blizzard faced “constant sexual harassment” and discrimination based on their gender, according to a lawsuit filed against the company by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Some of the claims in the suit are disturbing enough to require a content warning. Activision Blizzard’s initial official response called the state’s descriptions “distorted, and in many cases false,” though one of Blizzard’s executives has called them “extremely troubling” and Activision Blizzard’s CEO later called the company’s first response “tone deaf.”
In response to Activision Blizzard’s denials, what’s estimated to be almost a third of the company’s employees signed an open letter calling for Activision Blizzard’s leaders to take accountability, with many planning a walkout on July 28th. Blizzard has also pledged to remove “inappropriate references” from its MMO World of Warcraft but hasn’t specified what those references are.
The case, along with employee’s response to it, could end up being an important moment for the video game industry, which has long struggled with the mistreatment of female and minority employees. You can check back here for the news on future developments in the case and employee actions.
- MMicrosoft has formally recognized the ZeniMax union.
QA workers at Microsoft’s ZeniMax Studios have voted to join the Communications Workers of America and, true to its word, Microsoft has formally recognized the organization. That means that the National Labor Relations Board won’t have to litigate the election, and the company and the union can start negotiating.
The approximately 300 workers in the union are looking to “put an end to sudden periods of crunch, unfair pay, and lack of growth opportunities within the company,” according to one employee quoted in the CWA’s press release.
Quality Assurance Workers at Microsoft’s ZeniMax Studios Establish Company’s First Union[Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA)]
- RWorkers at Activision Blizzard’s Proletariat studio are organizing.
Less than a month after a second group of Activision Blizzard workers voted to unionize, the Communications Workers of America announced the latest group filing for a union representation election.
The 57 workers in the unit include animators, designers, engineers, producers and quality assurance workers. Earlier this year, quality assurance workers at Activision’s Raven Software studio in Wisconsin and Blizzard Albany won their union elections, despite Activision Blizzard’s repeated attempts to prevent workers from voting.
“Everyone in the video game industry knows Activision Blizzard’s reputation for creating a hostile work environment, so earlier this year, when we heard that Blizzard was planning to acquire Proletariat, we started to discuss how we could protect the great culture we have created here,” said Dustin Yost, a Software Engineer at Proletariat. “By forming a union and negotiating a contract, we can make sure that we are able to continue doing our best work and create innovative experiences at the frontier of game development.”
Proletariat Workers Become Third Group of Activision Blizzard Workers to Form Union with Communications Workers of America[Communications Workers of America]
Dec 2, 2022, 7:21 PM UTCJay Peters
The US Army paused a Call of Duty League sponsorship after allegations against Activision came to light
The Army was concerned about ‘the brand reputation issue.’
Dec 2, 2022, 6:04 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Another Blizzard QA department wins union vote
QA testers working on Diablo IV in Albany, New York, have just elected Activision Blizzard’s second union after an actual blizzard delayed the vote.
Jul 21, 2022, 3:45 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Activision Blizzard employees walk out again, this time for reproductive protections
The walkout happens to fall on the one-year anniversary of the company’s bombshell sexual harassment lawsuit
Jul 19, 2022, 6:31 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Blizzard QA workers in Albany are organizing Activision’s second union
‘They have failed [at union busting] and will continue to fail’
Jul 6, 2022, 11:04 PM UTCJay Peters
Blizzard will bring back BlizzCon in 2023
It would be the first in-person BlizzCon since 2019
Jun 16, 2022, 8:48 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Activision Blizzard investigated Activision Blizzard and found Activision Blizzard didn’t do anything wrong
Oh, and it says the media made them look bad, too
Jun 10, 2022, 4:56 PM UTCRichard Lawler
Activision Blizzard will begin negotiations with QA testers union at Raven Software
This is only the second game industry union in North America
May 5, 2022, 11:36 PM UTCRichard Lawler
Blizzard hires a vice president of culture to fix its culture
Jessica Martinez has 14 years of experience at Disney
Apr 29, 2022, 5:50 PM UTCMitchell Clark
Activision Blizzard again accused of threatening employees for speaking out
Employees were allegedly threatened for discussing a lawsuit against the company
Apr 22, 2022, 9:16 PM UTCAsh Parrish and Jay Peters
21 Raven Software QA employees will be allowed to have a union election
The employees have until May 20th to submit their ballots
Apr 13, 2022, 5:23 PM UTCAsh Parrish
California governor has been interfering in Activision Blizzard lawsuit
Gavin Newsom allegedly fired top DFEH lawyer
Apr 11, 2022, 8:43 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Activision Blizzard appoints new diversity officer
In addition to diversifying the company’s workforce, Kristen Hines will also ensure the company’s games include diverse perspectives, too
Apr 7, 2022, 9:24 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Activision Blizzard’s new full-time jobs come with a bit of union busting
Raven Software QA workers organized under the Game Workers Alliance will not be able to benefit from the new pay raises
Apr 1, 2022, 11:59 PM UTCJay Peters
Activision Blizzard confirms vaccine mandate is over, employees will walk out April 4th
A Better ABK made three demands of the company on Friday
Mar 30, 2022, 3:20 AM UTCJay Peters
Judge approves Activision Blizzard’s $18 million harassment settlement
The company’s settlement with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has been approved
Mar 24, 2022, 11:30 PM UTCJay Peters
Activision Blizzard hit with another sexual harassment lawsuit
More disturbing allegations have been brought against the company
Mar 6, 2022, 4:53 PM UTCEmma Roth
Activision Blizzard sued over claims sexual harassment contributed to employee’s death
The parents of Kerri Moynihan allege workplace harassment was a “significant factor” that led to her suicide
Jan 21, 2022, 1:02 AM UTCJay Peters
Blizzard boss details what the studio is doing to ‘rebuild your trust’
Mike Ybarra’s new blog arrives just two days after Microsoft announced its intent to buy Activision
Jan 18, 2022, 4:38 PM UTCRichard Lawler and Andrew Webster
Read Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick’s email to employees about the Microsoft acquisition
The exec said, ‘In considering possible partners, all roads ultimately lead to Microsoft’
Jan 11, 2022, 5:08 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Lego delays Overwatch 2 set as company reevaluates relationship with Activision Blizzard
The only Overwatch 2 product on track to release this year will not release this year
Jan 8, 2022, 12:03 AM UTCJay Peters
California appeals decision regarding Activision Blizzard settlement
Activision Blizzard’s legal troubles may have taken another potential turn
Dec 14, 2021, 9:42 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Judge denies California’s attempt to intervene in Activision Blizzard settlement
The consent decree and the $18 million victim fund will remain as is for now
Dec 10, 2021, 8:34 PM UTCAsh Parrish
Activision exec asks employees to ‘consider the consequences’ of unionizing
A letter sent to employees stated that direct communication with management is better than unionizing