6 Biggest Gaming Industry Controversies Of The 2020s (So Far)
1. The Activision/Blizzard Lawsuit
A more recent, and unfortunately troubling story, we need to talk about the lawsuit lobbied against producer Activision/Blizzard.
A 'watershed' moment for the industry, the company behind Overwatch and World of Warcraft have been accused of several acts of infamy themselves. Thousands of employees have come forward, signing petitions, staging walkouts on top of claims regarding sexual harassment, gender discrimination and even physical abuse.
A quick internet search shows a fan asking why female Warcraft characters are so sexualised, only to be booed and ridiculed from Activison Blizzard’s representatives.
This truly has proven the power of people standing together. The company’s president and head of HR have since 'stood down' or 'pursued other endeavours' in light of this scandal.
The gaming community is now facing whether to boycott these various IPs, or to take a middle approach of not wanting the hard work of the well-meaning developers to go unrecognised. Do the bad apples truly spoil this bunch? Because it seems like a whole orchard...
The video game industry has never been renowned for its diversity, and even having a bit of a “boy club” attitude. This latest news is a sign that this attitude is toxic, systemic, and far from over.
There is still quite a way to go.