As the year comes to a close, the lawsuits filed against Activision Blizzard continue to build controversy and draw attention to discrimination and toxic workplace culture throughout the video game industry. Other companies have already begun to address allegations within their own studios, so it may not be a surprise to hear that Activision game developer Treyarch Studios has made a statement on the subject. According to a post recently shared on social media, Treyarch Studios has no room for sexism, harassment, or other forms of discrimination in its culture.
Back in July, The DFEH filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard and put a spotlight on the sexual harassment, discrimination, and unfair working conditions seen at the company. This included allegations that former Treyarch Studios head Dan Bunting, who has since departed from the studio, sexually harassed a female employee in 2017.
The official verified Treyarch Studios Twitter account recently released a statement that approaches the ongoing discrimination controversies plaguing the industry. Although the message does not refer to any specific incident at Treyarch Studios--or Activision Blizzard as a whole--it does make it clear what the studio's official position is. According to the message, Treyarch Studios is composed of "smart, talented, world-class creative professionals who seek to perform at our best," which means that there's no room for discrimination within the company's walls.
It appears that the post was made to ensure Treyarch Studios' position was clear as the new year approaches. The studio may be best known for its role in creating Call of Duty Zombies. With Call of Duty: Vanguard's Zombies mode receiving a questionable response from fans, the developers may have decided to try and address further controversies before they could get traction. Treyarch associate producer Miranda Due stated that the post was written by the women of Treyarch Studios--namely, those who have been impacted by the company's toxic past.
Miranda Due went on to say that Treyarch Studios was fighting for a better future and that change had to happen from within. When addressing concerns about the truthfulness of the statement, she declared that the women of Treyarch Studios need support, not skepticism. As of writing, Activision Blizzard has fired over 20 employees as a result of the discrimination controversy and associated lawsuits. It remains to be seen exactly what Treyarch Studios has planned for the new year to ensure the safety of its employees.