Having become notorious for unhealthy work conditions and allegations of sexism and discrimination against women, the video game industry is working to become a more inclusive environment.
Activision Blizzard is among a growing list of video game companies embracing transparent pay in an effort to combat wage discrimination and unfavorable work conditions.
- In April, Activision added two women, Lulu Cheng Meservey and Kerry Carr, to its board.
- However, the discrepancies aren’t exclusive to the U.S,. as men at U.K. game companies made 17.1% more than women in 2021, per Gamesindustry.biz.
The desire to implement change comes amid several controversies shrouding the industry.
Activision was facing a class-action lawsuit in California that claimed the video game publisher misled investors regarding allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination.
The lawsuit — filed by shareholders in 2021 — was dismissed in April.
Riot Games, the developer of “League of Legends,” faced legal issues of its own after it agreed to pay a $100 million gender discrimination settlement in December 2021.
PlayStation is also facing a potential class-action gender discrimination lawsuit in California by a former employee after a federal judge dismissed her initial lawsuit in April.
Taking a Stand
The need for change within the gaming industry has empowered its workforce.
In May, employees of Raven Software — a subsidiary of Activision — voted to form a union, which would be the first for a public gaming company in the U.S.
Activision plans to negotiate with the Communications Workers of America over a collective bargaining agreement.
