Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation condemn harassment at Activision

With each passing day, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick becomes increasingly difficult. Following the condemnations of PlayStation and then Xbox, we learn that Nintendo has also made it known that the actions described in the press are inadmissible.

PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo report harassment

How long can Bobby Kotick hold out at the helm of Activision? The question is a legitimate one as pressure is building in the industry, even with longtime company partners.

Since the beginning of the year, Activision-Blizzard has been the subject of an investigation for acts of harassment and rape within the company. But in recent weeks, new details released in the press further undermine the position of Bobby Kotick, current CEO of the group in which the board has, until recently, given its full confidence so that he can continue to carry out his duties.

However, Bobby Kotick is accused of having knowledge of serious cases reported internally and also of having threatened to kill an employee.

PlayStation was the first major manufacturer to publicly react through Jim Ryan, head of Sony Interactive Entertainment, who said he was “disheartened and shocked” by the revelations. He also expressed doubts that the Activision-Blizzard group could adequately respond to the situation.

It was then Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, who reacted on the issue. He said he was “disturbed and deeply disturbed by the horrible events and actions” that are reported in the press. “This type of behavior has no place in our industry,” he said.

Today, we learned from Fanbyte that Nintendo has also added its stone to the building from Doug Bowser in an email sent on November 19 to their Nintendo teams in the United States.

Along with all of you, I have followed the latest developments at Activision-Blizzard and the ongoing reports of sexual harassment and toxicity at the company. I find these stories distressing and disturbing. They are against my values ​​and the beliefs, values ​​and policies of Nintendo.

The message states that Nintendo is committed to having an open and inclusive workplace for all and that it expects the same from the industry and its partners. The email also indicates that Nintendo has been in contact with Activision and that action has been taken, although we are not aware of the content. However, we know that other measures are being studied, which shows that the pressure could increase even more in the coming days.

The petition signed by the group’s employees today brings together more than 1,800 people, including historical developers of the Call of Duty franchise such as Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch and Infinity Ward.

Learn more about bullying issues in the video game industry.