Update: Since this article was published, Activision has provided PCG with two additional statements. A spokesperson for the company further clarified that Activision feels that it is "focused on building an inclusive culture. We have a workplace code of conduct policy that is consistently shared with our employees and will take appropriate disciplinary action when that policy is clearly violated."

Regarding the voicemail referenced in the original article, in which Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told his assistant that he was going to "kill him," Activision stated, "The exaggerated voicemail left 16 years ago as a joke, with the clear understanding that the recipient was not serious, was a recent colleague has nothing in common with the profanity-laced slander used in the intentional abuse of a colleague. Each situation was handled accordingly."

Original The union behind some recent organizing activities at Activision Blizzard's development studio, the Communications Workers of America (CWA), has filed charges directly against Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. found by Kotaku (in a new tab open), the CWA alleges that the company violated the law when it fired two QA testers last February.

The fired QA testers were two of many employees who were upset with Activision's recent attempts to bring employees back to the office; according to the CWA, the employees objected to the return-to-work plan "citing cost-of-living concerns and the impact on co-workers who might be displaced." The CWA said that two testers, in particular, were "strongly opposed" to the plan. Two testers in particular expressed their dissatisfaction "in strong terms"; Activision, whose CEO once told an assistant, "I'm going to kill you (open in new tab)," fired them for it.

According to the CWA, abusive language and strong language was protected by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) until 2020, when the Trump administration "systematically rolled back workers' rights."

In the complaint filed by the CWA, the terminations actually occurred in response to employees' "protected, concerted, and engaged union activity" ." and that Activision "unreasonably refused a request to have a co-worker present at the disciplinary meeting" at which the two terminations took place.

In a statement to PC Gamer, an Activision spokesperson said of the strong language the fired staffers appeared to have used, "Protest activity does not imply that we have the right to abuse, harass, or defame our colleagues. We do not condone such behavior and are disappointed that CWA is defending it," Activision said."

Unsurprisingly, CWA is not convinced by such a rebuttal. A CWA spokesperson called Activision an "unscrupulous" employer and declared that "workers should have the right to express themselves."

The relationship between CWA and Activision is long, acrimonious, and at this point almost completely hostile. In the last year alone, the two sides have fought countless battles before the NLRB over Activision workers (open in new tab), with the labor board usually ruling in CWA's favor. Most recently, CWA sent a letter to EU regulators (opens in new tab) begging them to allow Microsoft to acquire the company. They believe that doing business with Microsoft is far preferable to contending with Activision's "management arrogance." Perhaps the only thing the union and Activision executives agree on is that Microsoft's takeover should go through.