Activision makes 1,100 game testers full-time employees

Steffens called Activision Blizzard’s exclusion of Raven workers ‘especially galling’, considering those quality assurance professionals have been ‘at the forefront of this effort’, adding that Activision is trying to ‘divide workers and undermine their effort to form a union’. — AFP

Activision Blizzard Inc said it will convert about 1,100 US-based temporary or contract quality assurance workers to full-time staffers. The move comes after years of criticism over the video game publisher’s reliance on part-time employees and their tenuous working conditions.

The change will increase headcount at Activision’s publishing arm by 25% and boost the minimum salary for those workers to US$20 (RM84) an hour, according to a statement from the company. The workers will also be eligible for full company benefits.