Activision Blizzard scandal a 'watershed moment' for women in the gaming industry

For women at Activision Blizzard, one of the world's most famous video game companies, showing up to work meant navigating near daily episodes of humiliation, sexual harassment, and even physical abuse, according to a bombshell lawsuit that has prompted a reckoning within the gaming industry. The claims paint a disturbing picture of life for female employees: rampant sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, and a "frat boy" workplace culture where men objectified women's bodies and openly joked about rape. The lawsuit was brought by California's department of fair employment and accuses the multi-billion dollar company – whose output includes Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush – of violating the state's civil rights and equal pay laws. The fallout has been swift and widespread. This week the company's president and its head of human resources stepped down after hundreds of employees staged a walkout and thousands signed a petition demanding a response to the scandal.