$18 million. For perspective, last year they made a net of $876 million. $18 million is 2% of that. Let's put that into perspective. You make $15/hour, 40 hours a week. That's a gross (not even...
$18 million.
For perspective, last year they made a net of $876 million. $18 million is 2% of that. Let's put that into perspective. You make $15/hour, 40 hours a week. That's a gross (not even net) of $31,200. 2% of that is $624.
This toxicity is going to continue until we hand down punishments that are punishing.
If you want even more perspective: In the first half of 2021, ActiBlizz made 2,661 million (that is 2,6 billion) in microtransactions alone. In 6 months! That is ca. 14.6 million a day. It's...
If you want even more perspective: In the first half of 2021, ActiBlizz made 2,661 million (that is 2,6 billion) in microtransactions alone. In 6 months! That is ca. 14.6 million a day. It's revenue, not profit, but that is still such a huge amount of money it's insane.
USD 18 million is probably less than a day worth pure profit for the company.
So then the comparison is even worse on the fictional person. Since net generally only counts in terms of taxes for a regular person, not after paying bills, buying food, etc. God damn.
So then the comparison is even worse on the fictional person. Since net generally only counts in terms of taxes for a regular person, not after paying bills, buying food, etc. God damn.
That doesn't make it sound like a slap on the wrist to me. I make a lot more than $31k and I wouldn't be happy about paying a $624 fine, much less a full 2% if my annual income.
That doesn't make it sound like a slap on the wrist to me. I make a lot more than $31k and I wouldn't be happy about paying a $624 fine, much less a full 2% if my annual income.
Well, that makes it easy for me. I'm never spending a single cent on anything Activision Blizzard, ever again. Companies like this never learn anything about how to be decent to human beings. They...
Well, that makes it easy for me. I'm never spending a single cent on anything Activision Blizzard, ever again. Companies like this never learn anything about how to be decent to human beings. They only learn how to escape punishment and become better at hiding future transgressions.
Yeah for real. I "quit" WoW a few months before this all came out (I just got bored, as I usually do a few months into an expansion), but I started to get that itch to play again recently. My hope...
Yeah for real. I "quit" WoW a few months before this all came out (I just got bored, as I usually do a few months into an expansion), but I started to get that itch to play again recently. My hope was something good would come of this...mass firing of perpetrators, sweeping policy change, uplifting of female voices, financial ruin, SOMETHING that mattered. But instead we got a bunch of half-ass PR statements, a few token departures, and a drop in the bucket settlement.
In a few months this will be forgotten about, Blizz will announce some new expansion or game, and the world will move on. I wanted to be able to jump back into Blizz games, but I can't in good conscience support them if this is the outcome.
edit -- actually looks like there's still the California lawsuit left to be resolved as well. Sincerely hope it isn't another gentle slap on the wrist.
(from the Ars Technica article on the settlement) It seems to have some lasting teeth, even if the $18m fund represents is only 2% of the company's profit last year. This is not their primary...
In addition to creating the $18 million fund, terms of the settlement also require Activision Blizzard to overhaul its company practices, policies, and training procedures on discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and maintain compliance with the agreement, and will be subject to future audits from the EEOC.
It seems to have some lasting teeth, even if the $18m fund represents is only 2% of the company's profit last year.
This is not their primary legal fight though, this was just their lawsuit with the EEOC. ActiBlizz still has to contend with the SEC investigation (and resulting lawsuit(s) from the DoJ), as well as the case that started all of this, the lawsuit brought on by the California State Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
That's a slap on the wrist if I ever saw one.
$18 million.
For perspective, last year they made a net of $876 million. $18 million is 2% of that. Let's put that into perspective. You make $15/hour, 40 hours a week. That's a gross (not even net) of $31,200. 2% of that is $624.
This toxicity is going to continue until we hand down punishments that are punishing.
If you want even more perspective: In the first half of 2021, ActiBlizz made 2,661 million (that is 2,6 billion) in microtransactions alone. In 6 months! That is ca. 14.6 million a day. It's revenue, not profit, but that is still such a huge amount of money it's insane.
USD 18 million is probably less than a day worth pure profit for the company.
876 million net as in profit? So after paying their employees and bills and etc.?
2 billion before that.
So then the comparison is even worse on the fictional person. Since net generally only counts in terms of taxes for a regular person, not after paying bills, buying food, etc. God damn.
Yup.
That doesn't make it sound like a slap on the wrist to me. I make a lot more than $31k and I wouldn't be happy about paying a $624 fine, much less a full 2% if my annual income.
For creating an atmosphere of sexual harassment? I'd consider that a pittance.
Well, that makes it easy for me. I'm never spending a single cent on anything Activision Blizzard, ever again. Companies like this never learn anything about how to be decent to human beings. They only learn how to escape punishment and become better at hiding future transgressions.
Yeah for real. I "quit" WoW a few months before this all came out (I just got bored, as I usually do a few months into an expansion), but I started to get that itch to play again recently. My hope was something good would come of this...mass firing of perpetrators, sweeping policy change, uplifting of female voices, financial ruin, SOMETHING that mattered. But instead we got a bunch of half-ass PR statements, a few token departures, and a drop in the bucket settlement.
In a few months this will be forgotten about, Blizz will announce some new expansion or game, and the world will move on. I wanted to be able to jump back into Blizz games, but I can't in good conscience support them if this is the outcome.
edit -- actually looks like there's still the California lawsuit left to be resolved as well. Sincerely hope it isn't another gentle slap on the wrist.
(from the Ars Technica article on the settlement)
It seems to have some lasting teeth, even if the $18m fund represents is only 2% of the company's profit last year.
This is not their primary legal fight though, this was just their lawsuit with the EEOC. ActiBlizz still has to contend with the SEC investigation (and resulting lawsuit(s) from the DoJ), as well as the case that started all of this, the lawsuit brought on by the California State Department of Fair Employment and Housing.