Patch 9.1 Hotfixes - July 21, 2021, Activision Blizzard Sued By California

Update: Added Blizzard's statement on the lawsuit

Patch 9.1 Hotfixes - July 21, 2021
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Classes
  • Druid
    • Born Anew's (Conduit) primary stat bonus reduces to 20 upon the beginning of a new encounter.
      • Developers’ note: The intent of this bonus is to provide a benefit when using resurrections in combat. But it is best to avoid situations where players might feel compelled to min/max something like this before starting a pull.
  • Priest
    • Shadow
      • Shadow Crash's (Talent) ground visual will now match the area effect.
      • Void Volley's (PvP Talent) ground visuals will now match the area effect and has more defined edges.
  • Warrior
    • Arms
      • Fixed an issue where Swift Patrol (Niya Soulbind) caused the auto-attack timer to reset.

Creatures ad NPCs
  • Players now have a 2 second grace period to keep their vision of targets within the area contained by the Soul Chains between the Soul Cages during the Mor'geth encounter.
  • Reduced the number of Prince Renathals in Sinfall. Press F to pay respects.

Dungeons and Raids
  • Sanctum of Domination
    • Defeating Sylvanas Windrunner on Mythic difficulty will now reward 2 Vengeance’s Reins.
    • Remnant of Ner’zhul
      • Players can no longer cause a second orb to become non-interactable while carrying an Orb of Torment.
  • Plaguefall
    • You must now defeat the first three bosses of the dungeon before the door to Margrave Stradama opens on all difficulties.
      • Developers’ note: The first two bosses of the dungeon were frequently being skipped in lower-difficulty dungeons, typically by groups who were trying to earn Renown much faster than intended. To improve players' Renown earnings, we've also added a chance for Renown to be earned by completing layers in Torghast (see hotfix below).

Items and Rewards
  • Teleporter Repair Kits should no longer have a Unique count and will now stack to 50.
  • Repaired Riftkeys will also now stack to 50.
    • Developers’ note: Early in development, Teleporter Repair Kits and Repaired Riftkeys were only available from the vendor. Based on player feedback of not knowing if they were worth purchasing, we decided to have them drop occasionally as well. Now that these items dropped and became out of player’s control, we should have removed the unique cap on the Teleporter Repair Kits then. Also, since you have access to purchasing the Teleporter Repair Kits or Repaired Rift Keys, we are disabling them from going to mail if you loot one with a full inventory so they will no longer fill up your mailbox.

  • The item levels of Conduits sold by the Rated PvP vendor have been corrected.
  • Fixed an issue where the Salvaged Fusion Amplifier was not dropping for Marksmanship and Beastmaster Hunters.

Quests
  • Fixed an issue during “Nal’ragas” that caused internal text to be visible to users of certain nameplate addons.

Torghast
  • Renown is now a possible reward from Torghast completions, with better chances at Renown coming from higher Torghast difficulties.

Activision Blizzard Sued By California
According to a Bloomberg law article, Activision Blizzard is being sued over 'frat boy' culture after a 2-year investigation by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. For more information, check out the article below, and read the full court filing.



Blizzard provided Polygon with a statement responding to the lawsuit:

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
We value diversity and strive to foster a workplace that offers inclusivity for everyone. There is no place in our company or industry, or any industry, for sexual misconduct or harassment of any kind. We take every allegation seriously and investigate all claims. In cases related to misconduct, action was taken to address the issue.

The DFEH includes distorted, and in many cases false, descriptions of Blizzard’s past. We have been extremely cooperative with the DFEH throughout their investigation, including providing them with extensive data and ample documentation, but they refused to inform us what issues they perceived. They were required by law to adequately investigate and to have good faith discussions with us to better understand and to resolve any claims or concerns before going to litigation, but they failed to do so. Instead, they rushed to file an inaccurate complaint, as we will demonstrate in court. We are sickened by the reprehensible conduct of the DFEH to drag into the complaint the tragic suicide of an employee whose passing has no bearing whatsoever on this case and with no regard for her grieving family. While we find this behavior to be disgraceful and unprofessional, it is unfortunately an example of how they have conducted themselves throughout the course of their investigation. It is this type of irresponsible behavior from unaccountable State bureaucrats that are driving many of the State’s best businesses out of California.

The picture the DFEH paints is not the Blizzard workplace of today. Over the past several years and continuing since the initial investigation started, we’ve made significant changes to address company culture and reflect more diversity within our leadership teams. We’ve amplified internal programs and channels for employees to report violations, including the “ASK List” with a confidential integrity hotline, and introduced an Employee Relations team dedicated to investigating employee concerns. We have strengthened our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and combined our Employee Networks at a global level, to provide additional support. Employees must also undergo regular anti-harassment training and have done so for many years.

We put tremendous effort in creating fair and rewarding compensation packages and policies that reflect our culture and business, and we strive to pay all employees fairly for equal or substantially similar work. We take a variety of proactive steps to ensure that pay is driven by non-discriminatory factors. For example, we reward and compensate employees based on their performance, and we conduct extensive anti-discrimination trainings including for those who are part of the compensation process.

We are confident in our ability to demonstrate our practices as an equal opportunity employer that fosters a supportive, diverse, and inclusive workplace for our people, and we are committed to continuing this effort in the years to come. It is a shame that the DFEH did not want to engage with us on what they thought they were seeing in their investigation.
This article was originally published in forum thread: Patch 9.1 Hotfixes - July 21, 2021, Activision Blizzard Sued By California started by Stoy View original post
Published on 2021-07-22 02:18 AM
356 Comments
Comments 355 Comments
  1. Kiivar86's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by mbit View Post
    They are so competent they couldnt even write cosby right. Look at the original one -Repeatedly "Bill Crosby"
    I wouldn't hold the typo against them. Legal documents are riddled with such. You'd be amazed. If I had a buck for every typo I've seen in a document on my desk, I could've retired by now.

    Even simple words. I saw repeated misspellings of "State" as "Sate" the other day!
  1. Lodreh's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Video Games View Post

    lol. I feel vindicated after years of saying blizzard sucks
    This is very sad.
  1. Inoculate's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kalium View Post
    I'm not saying this didn't happen... but I can not find a single news article that talks about a former Activision-Blizzard employee committing suicide for any reason... especially on a business trip regardless of circumstances. The only time it is even mentioned is in the news surrounding this very lawsuit. I am curious for more details as this should have been a red flag from miles out.
    It's almost as if there are laws in place to protect the family of those experiencing loss. This is a government body starting the lawsuit, not employees. Just do some dang research and not just assume ONE article will explain the entire details. Read the dang suit, on page 15 it lays everything out in regards to the suicide.

    All you arm chair lawyers too lazy to even read the suit and just go off the click bait title and summary need to shut up or read the report. Either way we should all shut up and let the family grieve in peace and stop trying to defend a corporation that PAYS people to defend them.
  1. Grimbolt's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kalium View Post
    I'm not saying this didn't happen... but I can not find a single news article that talks about a former Activision-Blizzard employee committing suicide for any reason... especially on a business trip regardless of circumstances. The only time it is even mentioned is in the news surrounding this very lawsuit. I am curious for more details as this should have been a red flag from miles out.
    Hopefully no one helps you find anything to satisfy your morbid curiosity. This being a wow community site though, I am sure you have plenty of mind liked people that would spend hours digging into something so morbid. Unfortunately.
  1. Houle's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Mendzia View Post
    And again: it does not matter what the topic is. Insulting any other poster should not be tolerated here.
    Bullshit. Speaking out against sexual offenders or harassers, and calling them exactly what they are, should be tolerated literally everywhere. No exceptions.
    But funny to see that your biggest issue here are the people who (admittedly in rough language) speak out against them, instead of the harassers themselves.

    Quote Originally Posted by dope_danny View Post
    A woman took her life and the brand loyalty fanboys are still going "bUt wHeRe iS dA pRoOfS???" because they are choosing to go to bad and defend this. Which really says something about either the depths of addiction to a IP someone can have or just how lacking in basic human decency some people are.
    Welcome to brand fanboys and/or sexists. They exist for every brand on the planet, and are among the most digusting people imaginable. Theyd literally let them get away with anything bc its "mUh bLizZaRD"
  1. Lodreh's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Inoculate View Post
    It's almost as if there are laws in place to protect the family of those experiencing loss. This is a government body starting the lawsuit, not employees. Just do some dang research and not just assume ONE article will explain the entire details. Read the dang suit, on page 15 it lays everything out in regards to the suicide.

    All you arm chair lawyers too lazy to even read the suit and just go off the click bait title and summary need to shut up or read the report. Either way we should all shut up and let the family grieve in peace and stop trying to defend a corporation that PAYS people to defend them.
    Quote Originally Posted by Grimbolt View Post
    Hopefully no one helps you find anything to satisfy your morbid curiosity. This being a wow community site though, I am sure you have plenty of mind liked people that would spend hours digging into something so morbid. Unfortunately.
    Found it... Privacy is an illuision.
  1. KainneAbsolute's Avatar
    Blizzard put a lot of effort into female and LBTQI+ causes during the last years. Unfortunately, their agenda was to wash their image without making any actual change?. Add to it how Afrasiabi quietly left the company...
  1. Video Games's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kalium View Post
    I'm not saying this didn't happen... but I can not find a single news article that talks about a former Activision-Blizzard employee committing suicide for any reason... especially on a business trip regardless of circumstances. The only time it is even mentioned is in the news surrounding this very lawsuit. I am curious for more details as this should have been a red flag from miles out.
    It's serious enough it was mentioned in the lawsuit. I don't think it was put in there for fun
  1. Inoculate's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Kalium View Post
    I did read the lawsuit and several articles which reference the lawsuit. However, other than the lawsuit there is no mention of an employee of Activision-Blizzard committing suicide on a business trip. That in itself is news worthy. That would be a red flag. However, it doesn't seem to exist... almost like it's urban myth or water cooler gossip that was gathered during testimonials. Hence my curiosity. I'm not looking for names or details... I just want to know if it actually happened. The lack of any news article stating that an employee committed suicide during a business trip is more damning than finding out about it years later.
    Might surprise you, but not everything is in the news. Privacy is a thing. You can believe whatever you like, if you think the state of California would start a lawsuit and directly reference the suicide and NOT have proof...I don't know what to tell you man. You clearly are capable of far greater mental gymnastics than most and nothing I nor anyone else will say will ever change your mind.
  1. Lodreh's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Inoculate View Post
    Might surprise you, but not everything is in the news. Privacy is a thing. You can believe whatever you like, if you think the state of California would start a lawsuit and directly reference the suicide and NOT have proof...I don't know what to tell you man. You clearly are capable of far greater mental gymnastics than most and nothing I nor anyone else will say will ever change your mind.
    Found what I was looking for... there is an article just took a lot of digging. Very sad.
  1. Big Thanks's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Video Games View Post
    It's serious enough it was mentioned in the lawsuit. I don't think it was put in there for fun
    The official Blizzard reply called the DFEH a bunch of names like "sickening", "disgraceful" and "unprofessional".
    Saying they should, by law, give Blizzard more information before going to litigation (taking legal action).
    They seem pretty mad about that and keep attacking the DFEH for an entire paragraph.

    humm...Blizzard acting sus

    If you want to read:
    https://pt.wowhead.com/news/activisi...-female-323503
  1. ElDoorO's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vasilisa View Post
    A lot of people want it to be false because if it's true then it means that they are paying money to the degenerates.
    No, you're horrible wrong on that one.

    The problem here is people put their identity inside of their passion. Attacking the passion (in this case WoW/Blizzard) means attacking the person.

    This is why religion and politics are the way they are and why people cannot handle criticism. This is why when someone is criticial of WoW, the usual response is "just quit then" because discussing it opens the potential for a thing you love to not be perfect and by extension mean something is wrong with you.

    People don't care about giving money to degernerates. Are you typing that on an electronics device? Do you have ANY idea how horrible some of the practices are that go into devices? How about clothes? MOST people simply don't care.

    It's about the person. People, as a whole, are selfish and narrow minded.

    This is also why Vi versus Emacs is so dangerous to discuss. Ones identity is their tool and their passion.
  1. Vasilisa's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by ElDoorO View Post
    No, you're horrible wrong on that one.

    The problem here is people put their identity inside of their passion. Attacking the passion (in this case WoW/Blizzard) means attacking the person.

    This is why religion and politics are the way they are and why people cannot handle criticism. This is why when someone is criticial of WoW, the usual response is "just quit then" because discussing it opens the potential for a thing you love to not be perfect and by extension mean something is wrong with you.

    People don't care about giving money to degernerates. Are you typing that on an electronics device? Do you have ANY idea how horrible some of the practices are that go into devices? How about clothes? MOST people simply don't care.

    It's about the person. People, as a whole, are selfish and narrow minded.

    This is also why Vi versus Emacs is so dangerous to discuss. Ones identity is their tool and their passion.
    While I believe I'm not wrong but my short summary of the problem wasn't shoving the whole picture. You're right, a lot of people identify with company/game and treat this lawsuit as an attack against themselves.

    Btw, what's Vi versus Emacs?
  1. Cosmic Janitor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Cubster20038 View Post
    I am surprised a lot of people defending Blizzard saying this is fake news
    I'm more surprised that you made that account 3 years ago and now your first post is about not believing this forum is full of harcore Blizzard fans that are in full denial.

    While I prefer to be cautious with such allegations, if a state agency observes for 2 years, then goes along with suing the company, the case seems to be more than just solid.
  1. exochaft's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Roanda View Post
    The official Blizzard reply called the DFEH a bunch of names like "sickening", "disgraceful" and "unprofessional".
    Saying they should, by law, give Blizzard more information before going to litigation (taking legal action).
    They seem pretty mad about that and keep attacking the DFEH for an entire paragraph.

    humm...Blizzard acting sus

    If you want to read:
    https://pt.wowhead.com/news/activisi...-female-323503
    If my memory serves me right, ActiBlizz is well within its rights to see the evidence being used against them before litigation. Procedural stuff is not my forte, but I think this is the case.

    Regardless of innocence or guilt, ActiBlizz would likely respond the same way. One has to keep in mind that even filing such claims are a huge PR issue, even if nothing comes out. Heck, these forums have tons of people ready to instantly condemn ActiBlizz just based upon the accusations, which means the PR damage is already being done. The court filing's introduction is just as accusatory as ActiBlizz's statement, as this is how the game is played.

    I think people should always have a healthy bit of skepticism when it comes to matters like these, as it's never just black or white. Personally, I wouldn't put it past the DFEH (as a government body itself) to be embellishing the situation to make it seem way worse than it is. I mean California has never been known to have governmental agencies to overreach or do shady things, right? That's not to say this suit is one such instance, it may be 100% legit, but it also may not be. This is why you want to let these things play out, as you should not just automatically trust government or large corporations and what they tell you without verification.
  1. Mendzia's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Houle View Post
    Bullshit. Speaking out against sexual offenders or harassers, and calling them exactly what they are, should be tolerated literally everywhere. No exceptions.
    But funny to see that your biggest issue here are the people who (admittedly in rough language) speak out against them, instead of the harassers themselves.
    It is not my biggest issue here - stop putting words to my mouth.
    There are just better ways to handle these comments like report to mods instead calling other random internet people 'idiots'.
    Keep it civil - that's all.

    Quote Originally Posted by Roanda View Post
    The official Blizzard reply called the DFEH a bunch of names like "sickening", "disgraceful" and "unprofessional".
    Saying they should, by law, give Blizzard more information before going to litigation (taking legal action).
    They seem pretty mad about that and keep attacking the DFEH for an entire paragraph.

    humm...Blizzard acting sus

    If you want to read:
    https://pt.wowhead.com/news/activisi...-female-323503
    Yeah... things are getting 'better', holy fk.
    I really wonder how this situation will end.
  1. Al Gorefiend's Avatar
    Truthfully I'm not going to turn the other cheek to sexual harassment because I am/was a fan of WoW. Though honestly Blizzard's recent game design decisions coupled with these allegations does prove to me, their brain isn't the organ making the majority of the thinking decisions.
  1. Doombringer's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vasilisa View Post
    While I believe I'm not wrong but my short summary of the problem wasn't shoving the whole picture. You're right, a lot of people identify with company/game and treat this lawsuit as an attack against themselves.

    Btw, what's Vi versus Emacs?
    Vi and Emacs are Unix or Linux based editor/programming tools, I believe?

    There's a pretty strong divide between users of either. Basically like the old Macs vs. PCs war. Breaks down to someone who's so passionate about X Y or Z will take slander against those things so personally, they'll get enraged about it.

    Or, in this moment, people who are so high on the Blizzard buzz that they take this court filing personally.

    Folks -- unless you're on Blizzard's payroll in their Legal department, they don't need you rushing to their defense on the internet.
  1. Musicman835's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Inoculate View Post
    Might surprise you, but not everything is in the news. Privacy is a thing. You can believe whatever you like, if you think the state of California would start a lawsuit and directly reference the suicide and NOT have proof...I don't know what to tell you man. You clearly are capable of far greater mental gymnastics than most and nothing I nor anyone else will say will ever change your mind.

    Also, a lot of times suicides aren't reported on in the news to prevent people from using it as a reason to do the same. And Just like a federal investigation, when a state comes after a company with deep pockets, they've got the details to back it up.
  1. Wangming's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Roanda View Post
    The official Blizzard reply called the DFEH a bunch of names like "sickening", "disgraceful" and "unprofessional".
    Saying they should, by law, give Blizzard more information before going to litigation (taking legal action).
    They seem pretty mad about that and keep attacking the DFEH for an entire paragraph.

    humm...Blizzard acting sus

    If you want to read:
    https://pt.wowhead.com/news/activisi...-female-323503
    Naoki Yoshida apologized twice in a short period of time.

    First was when the servers got full due to FFXIV being popular.
    Second when he had to implement an automatic logout as a temporary countermeasure.

    In contrast here Blizzard is faced with a government lawsuit resulting from a two year investigation and supported by both several testimonies from former employees and circumstancial evidence like Afrasiabi being layed off without much fanfare compared to literally anyone else leaving.

    Their response? "You are all meanies. This is totally not how it happened." Is there nobody left in that company with a spine?
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