Last week, one of the world's largest gaming companies, Activision Blizzard, was sued for discriminating against people because of their gender and skin color.
The company, which is a merger of the gaming giants Activision and Blizzard, is behind games such as World of Warcraft, Candy Crush, Call of Duty and Overwatch.
- I would like to say that I am surprised, but I am not.
Many reports over the years have shown that it looks like this in many places in the gaming world.
Activision Blizzard is really a power factor in the gaming world, and it is a company with very strong traditions, says Liza Lind, who is chairman of the organization Female legends for female e-sports in Sweden.
The lawsuit is based on a two-year investigation by the California State Department of Fair Employment (DFEH) and contains testimonies describing a culture where women and other minority groups within the company have been paid less, subjected to harassment and harassment.
Open letter to the management
Activision Blizzard defended itself through a press release in which the company accused the investigators of not having conducted a sufficiently thorough investigation, and called the agency's behavior reprehensible.
This has led to an open letter, signed by over 800 employees at Activision Blizzard, demanding that the company take the investigation seriously and implement changes within the company.
- I have also seen many different streamers and players who have gone out on Twitter, for example, and said that they are now thinking about whether they want to continue playing Blizzard games, says Liza Lind.
Former executives at the company, including Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime, have, however, apologized:
"The fact that so many women were treated badly and did not receive support means that we betrayed them," he writes in a statement in which he says, among other things, that he is ashamed.
"I hear you, I believe you, and I'm so sorry I let you down," he continues.