"We are committed to making sure all team members feel safe, welcome, and respected."
As part of a hands-off preview announcing Call of Duty Vanguard to press ahead of today’s public reveal, Sledgehammer Games’ Studio Head Aaron Halon spoke out against harassment in the wake of allegations surrounding toxic behaviour at publisher Activision Blizzard.
Halon admitted he was unable to comment directly upon the lawsuit filed by the Californian Department of Fair Employment and Housing in late July, but nonetheless offered words of support.
“The stories and pain that people have shared are simply devastating,” Halon began. “We love making games. It’s what we do, it’s our life work, and we just love it.
“But more importantly, we’re humans. We’re all here for each other, working side by side and looking out for one another in good times and in bad times. So on behalf of Sledgehammer Games and all of the teams supporting Call of Duty Vanguard, harassment of any kind goes against everything we stand for as a studio.
“Everyone, regardless of title, role, gender, orientation and ethnicity deserves to be treated always with dignity respect and equality.
“While I cannot comment on the lawsuit… what I can say is that as a team, we are committed to making sure all team members feel safe, welcome, and respected. So, please know… that these thoughts and actions are at the top of our minds, and will be going forward. They speak to our core values of who we are, and who we wish to be.”
Activision Blizzard employees, including those from Sledgehammer Games, walked out of work in protest against the allegations later in July. Sledgehammer Games employees also joined up with those from other Activision Blizzard studios to form the ABK Workers Alliance, which has rejected the third-party lawfirm selected by senior management to audit the publisher.
Sledgehammer Games has recently expanded, opening new studios in Toronto, Canada and Melbourne, Australia.
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