'Don't die for them' | Activision Blizzard staff stage walkout after firm drops vaccine mandate

Staff at a scandal-ridden video game maker are set to stage a walkout this week over health and safety concerns, after the firm dropped its vaccine mandate.

As first reported by Bloomberg, and later The Verge, Activision Blizzard staff plan to down tools today, April 4, in protest against the company’s decision to lift measures requiring all of its US-based staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

Reports first emerged of the change in policy after leaked internal messages from the firm’s Chief Administrative Officer, Brian Bulatao, were shared on social media by Jessica Gonzalez, a former Activision Blizzard employee and a Founder of A Better ABK (Activision Blizzard King), in a series of screenshots.

“Effective immediately, we are lifting our vaccine mandate for all US employees,” Bulatao wrote, explaining that the move was in response to many other US firms dropping their vaccine mandates in recent months, following a drop in infections. In the leaked email, Bulatao also spoke about “the benefits of in-person collaboration”.