As the year comes to a close and we look forward to better things for 2022, it’s nice to finally be able to write a news roundup that doesn’t include Activision Blizzard. Just kidding, of course this week’s news includes something about Activision Blizzard as high profile lawyer Lisa Bloom sets her sights on taking the company down for the new year and ensuring that the victims see justice. But first, DisCon III wants to apologize for having an arms dealer represent them.
DisCon III Says Sorry About That Arms Dealer Thing
At DisCon III, Supergiant Games’ Hades won top spot in the 2021 Hugo Awards trial category of Best Video Games, but the awards were somewhat overshadowed by the fact that the event was sponsored by Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a segment of the arms manufacturer Raytheon Technologies, sparking backlash. In response, DisCon III Chair Mary Robinette Kowal has issued a statement, taking full responsibility for the decision and promising that DisCon III will “make an anonymous contribution to an organization dedicated to peace, equal to the amount we received from Raytheon.” Robinette Kowal indicates in the statement that she will make a contribution to the same organization and that a sponsorship policy will be developed that better reflects the values of DisCon.
Lisa Bloom’s “Call of Duty” to Represent the Victims of Harassment at Activision Blizzard
Trial lawyer Lisa Bloom tweeted that she is now representing four victims after asking other victims of gendered harassment at Activision Blizzard to come forward earlier in the month. In her thread, Bloom promises that we will be hearing more after the holidays “to put Activision Blizzard’s many sexual harassment victims front and center” and ensure that the victims are not forgotten as investigations continue into the allegations against Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out. In every case witnesses and evidence are essential. If you were a sexual harassment victim at Activision Blizzard I want to hear from you, even over the holidays.
It's my Call of Duty.
Always free and confidential, of course.
7/7
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) December 23, 2021
2021 Gaming by the Numbers
GamesIndustry.biz released its Year in Numbers 2021 infographic detailing everything from market value, to Metacritic scores, influencers, and what games and companies the industry has been talking about most. The site also reports that Twitch viewership has grown 45% year-over-year. Meanwhile, Yahoo! Finance looks at the esport market and the 2027 forecast.
Final Fantasy XVI Delayed Due to the Pandemic
Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida had promised to reveal more information about the game later this year, but recently tweeted that there have been delays in the development. “I regret to inform you that I will be unable to keep that promise as complications stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have delayed the game’s development by almost half a year.”
A message from Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida. #FF16 #FFXVI pic.twitter.com/qtfJUUp6LA
— FINAL FANTASY XVI (@finalfantasyxvi) December 27, 2021
Eyes on the Road, Tesla Drivers
A day after an investigation was opened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into Tesla’s “Passenger Play” feature in their vehicles, the electric car company reported that it will no longer allow the gaming feature to work while the vehicle is in motion, which definitely falls under NHTSA’s Distracted Driving criteria. The NHTSA’s investigation will continue, despite Tesla’s planned software update.
In other news…
- Tae Kim writes about Activision Blizzard, Aloy, and representation in a Washington Post opinion piece titled “Video Game Industry Struggles to Shake Sexist Attitudes.”
- The Seattle Times says that “The video game industry is closer to unionization than ever before.”
- China’s interest in the gaming industry is a bad sign for gamers, says Foreign Policy.
- Asia News Network reports that there are several new Korean game publishers that mean big competition for the likes of NCSoft, Nexon, and NetMarble.
- CNET spotlights community members who are working to make the community a safer space for everyone.
- Wizards of the Coast revealed full product line details for the next Magic: The Gathering Standard set, Kamigawa Neon Dynasty, which is set for release on February 18, 2021.
Mother, geek, executive assistant sith, gamer, writer, lazy succubus, blogger, bibliophile. Not necessarily in that order. Publisher at WomenWriteAboutComics.com
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