EA Chief Operating Officer Laura Miele issued pointed criticism of game companies with toxic cultures, implicitly calling out Activision Blizzard and CEO Bobby Kotick in saying "leaders who fall short of basic standards must go."
I like that she’s speaking out against this kind of behaviour, but some naming and shaming wouldn’t be uncalled for. As far as Bobby Kotick is concerned, that ship has sailed. He’s out the door, he has his golden parachute with nary a sanction to be seen. The whole situation is honestly infuriating, but at least he will be out of the picture soon.
Not to say that there aren’t any bad actors left, oh no. In fact, let’s put a spotlight on another influential man in the gaming industry, one who rivals Bobby in terms of sleaziness and being an abhorrent douchebag: the CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot.
About two years ago, Ubisoft’s now former creative officer Serge Hascoët was charged of sexual misconduct. Dude reportedly held business meetings in strip clubs. As the internal investigation was still ongoing, Yves let Hascoët resign. Again, he didn’t fire him, he didn’t punish him in any way he just… let him leave. Just like that. Yves went on record to say: "Toxic behaviors are unacceptable and are in direct contrast to values on which I have never compromised — and never will.” A year passes and suffice to say he probably made some compromises anyway. By all rights, Yves should be under fire just as much as Bobby was.
I like that she’s speaking out against this kind of behaviour, but some naming and shaming wouldn’t be uncalled for. As far as Bobby Kotick is concerned, that ship has sailed. He’s out the door, he has his golden parachute with nary a sanction to be seen. The whole situation is honestly infuriating, but at least he will be out of the picture soon.
Not to say that there aren’t any bad actors left, oh no. In fact, let’s put a spotlight on another influential man in the gaming industry, one who rivals Bobby in terms of sleaziness and being an abhorrent douchebag: the CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot.
About two years ago, Ubisoft’s now former creative officer Serge Hascoët was charged of sexual misconduct. Dude reportedly held business meetings in strip clubs. As the internal investigation was still ongoing, Yves let Hascoët resign. Again, he didn’t fire him, he didn’t punish him in any way he just… let him leave. Just like that. Yves went on record to say: "Toxic behaviors are unacceptable and are in direct contrast to values on which I have never compromised — and never will.” A year passes and suffice to say he probably made some compromises anyway. By all rights, Yves should be under fire just as much as Bobby was.