Raven Software, one of the main development studios behind Activision’s annual Call of Duty series, has laid off a number of people in its QA department – some of which recently moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where headquarters company.
News of the story first surfaced on Twitter, where Raven team members began posting about the layoffs, criticizing the company’s decision and asking people to contact any potential jobs for affected people. As of this writing, it is unclear how many people have been laid off.
“Our QA team is amazing at work but this will not only increase their workload but also lower morale,” a Raven employee said on Twitter. In a separate tweet, they said the layoffs occurred today after people were “promised, for months, that Activision was working towards a pay restructuring to increase their pay.”
“So sick,” another employee posted on Twitter. “I’ve watched each of my colleagues say they would be let go after being promised that things would get better. #FireBobbyKotic instead,” they said, referring to the ongoing issues surrounding Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, whom it has been reported recently knew for many years, as well as neglected to inform his board of directors, about the company problems with sexual misconduct.
According to Raven employees, several members of Raven’s QA department who were affected by today’s layoffs have recently moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to fill their positions. One employee said that some people paid for the move “out of their own pocket.”
According to staff and more report via The Washington Post’s Shannon Liao, the last day for employees to be terminated will be January 28, 2022.
“We’re all reeling from this,” said one employee. “Lots of tears. A lot of people are terrified for their future. So many great, highly competent testers have been fired after YEARS of work after one after another. I am angry. like crumbling.”
This story is still evolving. Game informant Have reached out to Activision for comment and will update the story if we receive a response.
If anyone was affected by today’s layoffs, would like to speak to Game informant, the author of this article can be contacted by email: blakehester@gameinformer.com. Hester is also available through Signal. HOLD can guarantee anonymity to anyone who requests it.
