Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 QA Staff Go On Strike

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 QA Staff Go On Strike

Key Takeaways

  • Activision QA staff who worked on Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 recently staged a walkout over the company’s return-to-office policy which limits remote work options.
  • Employee union ABetterABK deemed the policy unfair and harmful for disabled employees and those with medical conditions requiring remote work.
  • Activision is actively engaging in “ongoing” discussions with affected employees, but nothing has come of it so far.

As a seasoned gamer who’s been through multiple iterations of Call of Duty games, I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the QA staff at Activision. Having spent countless hours immersed in the virtual worlds they’ve helped create, it’s disheartening to see them struggle with real-world challenges.

The team at Activision in charge of quality control for “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” recently held a walkout in protest against the company’s office return policy. Backed by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), this strike was instigated by escalating concerns among the developers of “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6” who heavily rely on remote work arrangements and are affected by the new policy.

This year, Activision enforced a stringent office return policy for their Quality Assurance (QA) team at the Eden Prairie, Minnesota studio. After years of flexible remote and hybrid work arrangements, this change has stirred up controversy. The decision was met with criticism from Activision’s largest union, who termed it a “soft layoff.” For those employees dealing with medical issues or accessibility needs, this transition to in-office work has been particularly challenging, escalating into an ongoing disagreement that reached its peak last Friday, coinciding with the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. As a fan and sympathizer, I can’t help but feel concerned about the situation unfolding at Activision.

Supported by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), Activision’s employee advocacy group, ABetterABK, spoke out last Friday regarding their office return policy, labeling it as “unfair” and contending that it disproportionately impacts disabled workers and those needing remote work accommodations. The CWA argues that Activision is compelling in-office work for individuals with severe medical conditions despite the provision of doctors’ notes requesting remote work. ABetterABK asserts that the company’s persistent refusal to grant flexibility is making the workplace challenging and negatively affecting employees’ health and wellness.

Internal Activision Email Contradicts the Company’s Stance on Remote Work

The demonstration escalated following an internal email from Activision commemorating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which showed a disabled worker operating remotely. However, this image conflicts with the company’s stance on not offering remote work options for employees with health issues, as pointed out by ABetterABK. Moreover, ABetterABK representatives emphasized that the same QA team participating in the protest had contributed to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Activision’s most lucrative launch, and worked on it entirely remotely.

A representative from Activision recently told Eurogamer that some employees have found it challenging to adapt to returning to the office. The company is still working collaboratively with staff members who have asked for accommodations, but after a considerable amount of time, there’s been little evidence of significant policy changes within Activision. Notably, Bethesda Game Studios and World of Warcraft developers at Blizzard recently formed unions, reflecting a wave of transformation concerning worker rights within the gaming industry. This shift isn’t unexpected, as the sector has experienced approximately 13,000 layoffs in 2024, with no signs of slowing down.

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2024-10-30 11:13