Activision Blizzard says there was no “systematic harassment” at company, according to its own review

Activision Blizzard has shared results of its internal investigation, saying that there was no systematic harassment at the company. Its board has also concluded that the publisher’s executives never intentionally ignored instances of discrimination.

The company posted a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 16.

Former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) chair Gilbert Casellas conducted a review, concluding that there was “no widespread harassment, pattern or practice of harassment, or systemic harassment” at Activision Blizzard between September 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021.

The publisher’s board of directors also stated that despite many allegations, “there is no evidence to suggest that Activision Blizzard senior executives ever intentionally ignored or attempted to downplay the instances of gender harassment that occurred and were reported.”

The company acknowledged that “some substantiated instances” of harassment and gender discrimination, it doesn’t mean that its leadership or the board were aware of and tolerated this behavior.

In March, Activision Blizzard settled a federal harassment lawsuit filed by the EEOC for $18 million. Some experts noted that this was probably a “clear win” for the company, because the settlement might bar other plaintiffs from seeking further damages at the state court level.