The American publisher Activision Blizzard has been in turmoil for a few weeks because of complaints linked to a priori widespread practices of moral harassment within the company. Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser sent an email to all NOA employees, including the Retro Studios and Next Level Games teams, to denounce the practice and take an internal position on the subject. .
Activision-Blizzard is currently in the midst of a turmoil that could lead current CEO Robert Kotick to step down if sadly the seemingly entrenched culture within the company doesn’t change very quickly. It must be said that nothing is going any more for the publisher of the Call of Duty or World of Warcraft games in particular, following several complaints for harassment and even for rape: already 20 people have been fired following various internal reports, another twenty of people were disciplined.
Bobby Kotick is accused of trying to cover up the case, according to a Wall Street Journal article. Upon discovering the situation, walkouts were organized in the studios of the group, and several editors spoke more or less publicly on the subject. Through the voice of his CEO, Doug Bowser, it is in an internal email that Doug Bowser took a position:
Like all of you, I have been following the latest developments regarding Activision Blizzard and ongoing reports on sexual harassment and toxicity within the company. […] I find these testimonies distressing and disturbing. They go against my values and Nintendo’s beliefs, values and policies.
Without going into the details of the measures taken within Nintendo to prevent this kind of situation, Doug Bowser explains in his email that Nintendo has contacted Activision-Blizzard, but also with the ESA (the Entertainment Software Association, American equivalent of the French SELL, the Syndicate of Leisure Software Publishers).
Every business in the sector must create an environment where everyone is respected and treated equally, and where everyone understands the consequences of breaking this rule.
Nintendo did not wish to comment further on this situation, however confirming the veracity of the email from the CEO of NOA. – .
