Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard, video game company accused of creating ‘breeding ground for harassment’
Activision Blizzard, the famous video game company that has struggled with allegations of sexual harassment, is about to be acquired by Microsoft.
Microsoft third confirmation it will acquire the publisher behind hit games like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Overwatch in a $68.7 billion deal. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as head of the company, the announcement said.
The acquisition comes after Activision Blizzard was hit by a serious lawsuit by the California Department of Employment and Housing Equity last year, accused the company created a “breeding ground of harassment and discrimination.” According to the lawsuit, the female employees “virtually confirmed” that working for Activision Blizzard “is like working in a shared home.
Activision Blizzard denied the lawsuit’s claims, but in July current and former employees criticized the company’s response, which they said “creates a corporate atmosphere that makes victims distrustful.” In November, The Wall Street Journal report that Kotick had known about the sexual misconduct allegations at the company for years. Activision Blizzard has laid off or fired more than three dozen employees since July, follow Magazine.
On Tuesday, Microsoft said its acquisition of Activision Blizzard will help strengthen the portfolio of games offered on Game Pass, a Netflix-like subscription service that has become a key priority for the company. In 2020, Microsoft Notice it will get Bethesda, the company behind the attack Fall out and The Elder Scrolls games, which for $7.5 billion at the time was the studio’s largest ever video game purchase.
Microsoft note that after its deal with Activision Blizzard closes, it will “become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue” after Tencent and Sony. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer speak, “We look forward to extending our proactive culture of inclusion to great teams across Activision Blizzard.”
https://theweek.com/news/1009093/microsoft-to-acquire-activision-blizzard-video-game-company-accused-of-creating-a Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard, video game company accused of creating ‘breeding ground for harassment’
