Everyone is a bit confused, but ultimately embarrassed.
Employees from Activision Blizzard joined a walkout Wednesday, rallying at the headquarters of Blizzard Entertainment in Irvine, California, to protest the company’s response to a recent discrimination and sexual harassment lawsuit.
The suit, filed by the state of California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing against Activision Blizzard on July 20 in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges multiple instances of gender-based discrimination, inequality and harassment throughout Activision Blizzard’s network of companies.
At the rally, attended by approximately 200 people, according to Vice, one sign read: “Unaccountable corporate bureaucrats are driving the best employees out of Activision Blizzard.” Another read “Nerf Male Privilege,” using a game development term for weakening or tuning down an in-game mechanic.
Social media users also urged gamers to avoid crossing “the virtual picket line” by playing games published by Activision Blizzard, including Overwatch, World of Warcraft and any Call of Duty title.
The issues cited by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing lawsuit against Activision Blizzard have been raised about a number of other video game publishing companies over the years. Employees of Ubisoft, another major video game publisher based in Paris that recently ousted several executives following reports of workplace harassment and toxicity, authored an open letter in solidarity with Activision Blizzard employees, sending it to the company’s CEO, Yves Guillemot.
