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New report says the Microsoft Activision merger is a go in Europe

March 2, 2023VG247

The EU Commission is apparently sated, and will allow the acquisition. A new report states that the European Commission will allow Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard without the former being made to sell assets to win approval. This is according to sources familiar with the matter speaking to Reuters. If the sources are correct, this would mean Microsoft would not have to sell Call of Duty or other IPs off to appease the Commission. Xbox Games With Gold – March 2023 When reached for comment, a Microsoft spokesperson told the outlet the company was “committed to offering effective and easily…

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The Day Before delayed to November due to trademark dispute

January 26, 2023VG247

Someone beat the developers to it. The Day Before, the open-world survival MMO that looks like a cross between The Division and DayZ, has been delayed again, and this time it’s due to a trademark dispute. When the development studio Fntastic announced the game in January 2021, a trademark for The Day Before was available. However, in May 2021, an individual from South Korea filed for the trademark, four months after the game’s announcement. The Day Before – 4K RTX on Gameplay Reveal Filed in the US by the individual, after a standard period of assessment and investigation by the…

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CD Projekt settles with investors in Cyberpunk 2077 class-action suit to the tune of $1.85 million

January 6, 2023VG247

The parties involved have come to an agreement. CD Projekt has settled a class-action lawsuit originally brought by investors in 2021 over Cyberpunk 2077. The two parties, which entered into negotiations in late 2021, came to an agreement this week with CD Projekt agreeing to pay investors $1.85 million (thanks, Law 360 via PCgamesN). Cyberpunk: Edgerunners — Official Trailer – Netflix Investors filed a lawsuit against the company two years ago alleging it misrepresented the practically broken state of Cyberpunk 2077 on consoles to receive financial benefits. The first class-action suit against CD Projekt came about in January 2021, with…

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Activision Blizzard is being sued by New York City over the Microsoft buyout deal

May 4, 2022VG247

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. The suit alleges the deal was rushed due to the company’s current troubles. Activision Blizzard is being sued by the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) and pension funds over the impending sale of the company to Microsoft. According to an Axios report, the suit was filed last week over what the organization feels is a rush job by Activision Blizzard to get past its current legal troubles. The NYCERS, which owns stock in the company, states in the…

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Nintendo accused of firing employee for supporting unionization

April 21, 2022VG247

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. The complaint also names Nintendo’s staffing partner and recruitment firm, Aston Carter. A complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board by a former employee of Nintendo has accused the company of unlawful termination over the staffer supporting labor organization. According to the filing (thanks, Axios), the staffer discussed wages and other terms and conditions of employment, and in order to discourage further discourse among employees, Nintendo fired the staffer. The person who filed the complaint also states that Nintendo…

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Activision Blizzard hit with another lawsuit alleging discrimination and harassment

March 25, 2022VG247

Suit alleges there were “cube crawls” where women were subjected to sexual comments and groping. A new lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by a current employee who claims to have faced discrimination and experienced sexual harassment at the company. The employee also states in the suit they were also retaliated against for speaking out. According to the lawsuit, reported by Bloomberg Law, the employee referred to in the suit as Jane Doe, started working at the company in 2017 as a senior administrative assistant in the IT department. Her first experience of inappropriate behavior occurred on the first…

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Activision Blizzard exec sends email to employees discouraging potential unionization

December 11, 2021VG247

Activision Blizzard does not want a union getting involved as it tries to deal with current troubles. Activision Blizzard employees received an email recently indicating improving company culture should be achieved within the company, and not through a union organization. A Washington Post report indicates the companywide email was sent to Activision Blizzard employees by chief administrative officer Brian Bulatao. The email comes in the wake of employees who are considering forming a union, and have been asked by the media labor union Communications Workers of America (CWA) to sign union cards – which could result in employees voting to…

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Ubisoft CEO responds to open letter from employees, but group says “few points seem to have been addressed”

July 31, 2021VG247

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has responded to an open letter published by employees earlier this week, and his response hasn’t gone down as well as hoped with those who work at the company.Earlier this week, over 500 (now over 1,000) current and former Ubisoft staff members signed an open letter to the company, criticizing the French publisher’s failure to deliver proper change after last year’s scandal involving members of upper management.In response, company CEO Yves Guillemot sent a mail to employees, reiterating previous statements made after the scandal broke, stating that the company has made “important progress” over the past…

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Ubisoft employees criticize company’s “empty promises” following last year’s allegations

July 29, 2021VG247

Nearly 500 Ubisoft employees have signed an open letter as they stand in solidarity with Activision Blizzard employees, criticizing the French publisher’s failure to deliver meaningful change after last year’s allegations.As the ongoing fallout to the explosive Activision Blizzard lawsuit continues, Ubisoft employees have signed an open letter showing support to workers walking out of the Activision Blizzard campus in protest of their management’s response to claims made against the company.Addressing Activision Blizzard staff, Ubisoft staff’s open letter (which was shared by Axios reporter Stephen Totilo on Twitter) states: “We hear you and want to loudly declare our solidarity with you….

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Activision Blizzard being investigated by shareholders amid shares slump

July 28, 2021VG247

By Dom Peppiatt 28 July 2021 10:06 GMT In the wake of ongoing controversies surrounding Activision Blizzard‘s sexual harassment lawsuit, shareholders are investigating the company as its stocks start to slump.Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP is investigating Activision Blizzard to determine whether certain Activision officers and directors violated the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and breached their fiduciary duties to the company, according to a note shared on BusinessWire.Pre-market stats suggest the shares are starting to rally – albeit slightly – but overall, Activision Blizzard stocks have dropped by as much as 7% on Tuesday as the legal mess…

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Activision Blizzard employees staging walkout in support of lawsuit and to protest current leadership

July 27, 2021VG247

Activision Blizzard employees will stage a walkout to protest the company’s leadership and in support of the lawsuit brought by the state of California over allegations of harassment and bullying.The walkout will take place tomorrow, July 28, at Blizzard’s campus in Irvine, California.Along with news of the walkout, employees of the company released an official statement with a list of demands it wants company executives to adhere to (thanks, GI.biz).According to the employees, the walkout can be partially attributed to statements made by Activision Blizzard last week regarding the lawsuit along with comments made by Frances Townsend in an internal…

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Production on World of Warcraft apparently halted because of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit

July 26, 2021VG247

By Dom Peppiatt 26 July 2021 20:31 GMT According to a senior developer at Activision Blizzard, practically all work on World of Warcraft has been halted by a lawsuit regarding sexual harassment, bullying, unfair pay, and more besides.Last week, following a two-year investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the state filed a lawsuit against the publisher and developer, alleging the company incubated a “frat boy” culture.Now, World of Warcraft senior system designer Jeff Hamilton has taken to Twitter to note that very little work on the game is currently underway as Activision Blizzard responds to the situation…

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Blizzard’s J Allen Brack and former president Mike Morhaime respond to California’s lawsuit against the company

July 24, 2021VG247

In response to the lawsuit against Activision Blizzard brought by the state of California, former president Mike Morhaime and current president J. Allen Brack have issued public and company-focused statements regarding the allegations brought forth in the suit.Earlier this week, it was reported that a two-year investigation by the state of California has brought about a lawsuit aimed at Activision Blizzard. The investigation brought to light multiple accounts of sexual harassment, discrimination, bullying, unfair pay, and inappropriate behavior and comments directed at female employees within the company.Now, one former high-level executive at Blizzard, and one current executive, have addressed the…

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Activision Blizzard sued by California over sexual harassment and bullying allegations

July 22, 2021VG247

A two-year investigation by the state of California has ended in a lawsuit aimed at Activision Blizzard, citing sexual harassment, bullying, unfair pay, and more besides.Following a two-year investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the state has filed a lawsuit against the publisher and developer, alleging the company incubated a “frat boy” culture (via Bloomberg Law).The lawsuit alleges that female employees working for the company – who make up roughly 20% of the workforce – are victims of discrimination in terms of unequal pay, sexual harassment, bullying, and retaliation.CONTENT WARNINGThe investigation that brought the lawsuit to Activision…

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That big Cyberpunk 2077 combined lawsuit will be filed next month

May 26, 2021VG247

By Dom Peppiatt 26 May 2021 10:39 GMT The lawsuit consisting of four class action lawsuits being brought against Cyberpunk 2077 developer, CD Projekt, is due to be filed with the court in June, the company has said.Just last week, we heard that Polish developer CD Projekt will be facing one major lawsuit over Cyberpunk 2077 instead of four, as the court dealing with proceedings has consolidated the four class action lawsuits filed against it in December and January into one case.Now, CD Projekt has issued an update on the situation during a shareholder meeting, stating that a lead plaintiff had been appointed ahead and…

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