More Activision Blizzard Staff Sacked After Sexual Harassment Case
The heads are rolling over at Activision Blizzard and the pyramid is starting to fall. In the wake of shocking allegations of sexual harassment and a frat boy culture, the publishing powerhouse has been rocked from the ground up.
After a two-year investigation, the state of California sued Activision Blizzard in July 2021. Since then, a continuous stream of internal memos, victim statements, and stories from the infamous "Cosby Suite" have cast a dark cloud over the company and the industry in general.
What's Going On With Activision Blizzard?
According to the Wall Street Journal, Activision Blizzard has terminated more than 36 employees and "reprimanded" a further 40. It's a damning picture of the state of the once-lauded gaming giant. An Activision spokesperson confirmed the above but denied WSJ's claims that 700 reports of misconduct and "other issues" were uncovered during the internal investigation.
Apparently, Activision Blizzard was going to reveal the results of the case before Christmas, however, it was blocked by current CEO Bobby Kotick. The site claims that Kotick thought letting these figures out "could make the company’s workplace problems seem bigger than is already known."
WSJ paints a grim picture of what's going on. The site writes that Kotick "didn’t inform the board of sexual misconduct allegations that he was aware of, including rape, against managers across the company." Despite a cull of staff involved, Activision Blizzard is described as only just being able to hold onto its already shaky position.
What's Next For Activision Blizzard?
For many, the problem is that Kotick is entrenched at the top of Activision Blizzard. Thousands of employees called for his resignation, but standing firm, the CEO said he'd only step down if he can't "fix" the troubled publisher.
Looking at the wider sphere, Activision Blizzard is already feeling the pinch from external forces. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed Microsoft has changed the way it deals with Activision Blizzard, while LEGO pulled plans for a collaboration set with Overwatch 2.
Across the board, everyone from Sony to Nintendo has spoken out against these harrowing claims from within Kotick's company. Still, the board remains behind Kotick as its unquestionable leader. The spokesperson went on to reiterate, "The Board's support for Bobby is unchanged, and it is pleased with the commitment and leadership Bobby has demonstrated so far."
It's unclear what's next for Activision Blizzard and its well-rooted CEO, but with employees, fellows in the gaming industry, and the general public alike calling for a burning effigy of Kotick, this wave of sackings could be the beginning of the end for his reign.
