Activision Blizzard, known for popular franchises such as Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft, has faced significant controversies related to its workplace culture.

In 2022, the state of California filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, alleging widespread harassment of female employees, which led to over 1,000 employees calling for CEO Bobby Kotick's resignation.

The lawsuit was settled in 2023 for $54 million, with findings that the sexual harassment claims were unfounded, ultimately clearing Kotick of any wrongdoing.

To alleviate regulatory concerns, Microsoft and Sony agreed to a 10-year deal to keep the Call of Duty franchise available on PlayStation consoles.

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion has positioned it as the third-largest gaming company in the world.

This acquisition was part of Microsoft's strategy to strengthen its presence in the metaverse, with CEO Satya Nadella emphasizing the importance of robust content franchises.

However, since the acquisition, Microsoft has implemented mass layoffs across its gaming divisions, including Activision, as part of a broader trend in the tech industry adjusting to post-pandemic challenges.

Following the acquisition, Kotick initially intended to stay on as CEO but eventually left the company after the deal was finalized.

As of 2022, Activision Blizzard employed around 10,000 workers, but the company has seen significant layoffs following the acquisition.

Despite Microsoft achieving a market cap of $3 trillion in January 2024, it laid off 1,900 employees across Activision, Xbox, and ZeniMax, with Activision being the most impacted.

Activision Blizzard was formed in 2008 through the merger of Activision and Vivendi Games, with Blizzard Entertainment remaining a key subsidiary.

In 2010, Activision Blizzard entered a 10-year publishing agreement with Bungie for the Destiny franchise, which ended early in 2019, allowing Bungie to retain its publishing rights.