A former Activision Blizzard executive has filed a discrimination claim with the company, alleging it of discriminating against «old white guys».
18.12.2023 - 20:11 / gamespot.com / Bobby Kotick / Cameron Koch / Will
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.
More than two years later, California's lawsuit against Activision Blizzard is over.
By Cameron Koch on
Activision Blizzard has settled its 2021 sexual harassment lawsuit with the state of California, and will pay $54 million to the state along with an additional $47 million to female employees who worked at the company from 2015 to 2020.
The 2021 lawsuit, filed by the state agency then known as the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and now known as the California Civil Rights Department, accused Activision Blizzard of fostering a «frat boy» workplace culture rife with sexual harassment. Now, via The New York Times, Activision Blizzard and the California Civil Rights Department say in the settlement agreement that investigations into the company's culture did not turn up evidence of «systemic or widespread sexual harassment.»
An investigation into Activision's board, including the company's CEO, Bobby Kotick, found no evidence of wrongdoing, according to the settlement agreement. A report by The Wall Street Journal in 2021 alleged Kotick hid knowledge of misconduct at the company. The report alleged he had made a death threat to a female assistant in 2006 and had personally intervened in a separate internal sexual harassment investigation at the company. Activision Blizzard had previously argued against the lawsuit, attributing it to «irresponsible behavior from unaccountable state bureaucrats.»
In the wake of the lawsuit's allegations, Activision Blizzard announced steps it had taken to create «a more accountable workplace.» Those steps included an expansion and restructuring of the company's Employee Relations and Ethics & Compliance teams. It was also announced that more than 20 people involved in «resolved reports» at Activision Blizzard had departed the company, with another 20 or so facing «disciplinary action.»
Even Activision Blizzard's games were affected by the lawsuit, as Blizzard in particular sought to distance itself from implicated employees. In World of Warcraft, multiple references to the only Blizzard employee explicitly named in California's lawsuit were removed. Blizzard additionally changed the name of the Overwatch character originally named Jesse McCree, named after a former Blizzard employee who was fired following the California lawsuit.
The lawsuit, in part, led to Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard, a deal that was finalized this year. The publisher behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft saw its stock price significantly fall in the wake of the lawsuit's accusations, leading to Microsoft's $69 billion
A former Activision Blizzard executive has filed a discrimination claim with the company, alleging it of discriminating against «old white guys».
A former Activision executive has sued the publisher in California state court accusing the company of age discrimination and violating the state's whistleblower protection law, as reported by Law360.
Bobby Kotick’s last day at renowned gaming megacorporation Activision Blizzard was Friday, December 29th, 2023. He leaves with a $15 million… departure salary? In casual terms, it’s a “golden parachute.” He’s 60 years old. He’ll be fine.
It's official: Bobby Kotick has left Activision Blizzard. After 32 years of leading the company, originally just Activision before the Blizzard merger, the controversial CEO is gone, having seen the Microsoft acquisition through to the end.
Long-time Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick is leaving the company following its acquisition by Microsoft in October. Kotick will depart on 29th December, with Microsoft largely keeping the company’s core leadership intact outside of this.
Long-time Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick is leaving the company following its acquisition by Microsoft in October. Kotick will depart on 29th December, with Microsoft largely keeping the company’s leadership intact outside of this.
Microsoft announced that Activision Blizzard CEO is finally stepping down, effective December 29. He is not the only high-profile departure, though Microsoft intends to leave most of the company’s management in place.
The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.
It’s official: The Bobby Kotick era at Activision Blizzard will end on December 29. According to The Verge, Instead of appointing a new replacement, the top Activision Blizzard executives will now report to Microsoft’s game content and studios president Matt Booty. Several more higher-level Activision Blizzard employees will also leave the company in the new year with departures planned through March 2024.
Sign up for the GI Daily here to get the biggest news straight to your inbox
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick is officially resigning from the company after the completion of Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of the gaming developer and publisher. Kotick’s last day is Dec. 29, when Microsoft studio head Matt Booty will take lead of the Activision Blizzard executive leadership team. Kotick led Activision Blizzard for 32 years.
California’s Civil Rights Department reached a settlement with Activision Blizzard late last week two years after the state regulator brought a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination, pay inequities and a culture of sexual harassment at the video game company.