The announcement from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer comes as Activision Blizzard faces a series of crises: In July, the publisher was sued by California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing; the state agency's suit alleging widespread gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment at the company. Activision Blizzard also faces a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, as well as a class-action lawsuit instigated by shareholders and an unfair labor practices complaint filed by workers and the media labor union Communications Workers of America. The publisher's CEO, Bobby Kotick, has faced repeated calls by employees to step down.