California files objection to recent Activision Blizzard settlement, says will cause "irreparable harm" to its legal proceedings

California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed an objection to a recent settlement between Activision Blizzard and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming it would cause “irreparable harm” to its ongoing legal proceedings.

The settlement, announced in September, saw Activision Blizzard agreeing to set aside $18m USD for affected employees after an EEOC investigation stemming back to 2018 found staff at the video game publisher had been sexually harassed, discriminated against for becoming pregnant, and had suffered retaliation by the company after complaining about the behaviour.

The EEOC investigation, although long in the works, only hit headlines after a California Department of Fair Employment and Housing lawsuit sent shockwaves across the industry in July, alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, and a “frat boy” work culture at Activision.

The fallout from the DFEH’s lawsuit was immediate and significant – employee walkouts, the departure of Blizzard president J. Allen Brack and other high-profile staff, further legal action, and even a separate investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission followed – but now the DFEH has formally filed objections to the recent EEOC settlement, arguing the deal would undermine its ongoing claims against Activision Blizzard.