Activision Blizzard employees concerned about future following Microsoft takeover

Following Microsoft’s massive $70 million acquisition of Activision Blizzard, employees and company figures have expressed their concerns regarding the company’s new leadership. Activision Blizzard has been under harsh scrutiny ever since the launch of a California lawsuit alleging countless instances of employment mistreatment, sexual misconduct, and employment discrimination.

Many employees immediately took to Twitter to give their thoughts on the acquisition. Several employees stated that they will be content with the acquisition so long as Microsoft allows the company to unionize, something that Blizzard Activision has actively worked to prevent in the past.

Others have demanded the removal of Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, who has announced that he shall continue his position until the purchase. Both during the purchase and following the closure, Phil Spencer will be the active CEO and the individual many higher ups will report to.

we've had 0 communication from any leadership since the strike began and so now we wonder if that's because they have new people to negotiate with or because we've been labeled "someone else's problem now" or if we are simply too small in number to matter at this point

— △ jiji (@runedeer) January 18, 2022

The purchase will take some time to conclude, as the final sale date is projected to be sometime in 2023. In the meantime, employees have heavily criticized Activision Blizzard’s lack of communication, many stating that Twitter was where they first learned of the acquisition.

Others involved in the ongoing strikes also feared that this massive deal would overshadow attempts to improve workplace culture. Though there is some time before this deal is finalized, many worry that the progress they have fought for will ultimately be lost.

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Image Credit: Activision Blizzard