Activision Blizzard will pay up to $54 million to settle harassment lawsuit

Activision Blizzard will pay up to $54 million to settle the ongoing legal case of discrimination and sexual harrassment it has been facing in the courts since 2021, wich has become a pivotal moment for Microsoft Gaming’s potential acquisition.

Activision Blizzard, now part of Microsoft Gaming, has reached an agreement with the California Department of Fair Emplyment and Housing to bring the case to a close and finally adress the allegations. Nearly $47 million will be paid to current and former female employees who accused the company of gender-based pay disparities, and over $9 million will be allocated to cover legal fees.

As a part of the settlement, the video game producer commits to improving its salary and promotion pratices for employees under the oversight of California authorities. The California agency’s investigation states that no evidence of systemic sexual harassment was found, and executives did not ignore complaints about harassment.

The investigation also found no evidence of misconduct or mismanagement by Bobby Kotick, the CEO. It revealed discrepancies in salary and promotional opportunities between men and women, issues that extend to career advancement.

Activision Blizzard expresses satisfaction at seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and commits to improving its practices and policies concerning emplyee avancement within the company.