Game Bytes: Cops Caught Playing Pokémon Go On Duty, LEGO Steps On Overwatch 2 Deal
January is well on its way and video game news is here to stay. This week had a continuation of the Activision Blizzard controversy that seems to never be ending. Pokémon was also in the news this week for a very unique reason.
Two LAPD officers who were fired in 2017 for playing Pokémon Go while on duty have had their appeal for reinstatement denied by a California judge. The officers’ squad car dashcam showed the two officers, Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell, ignoring a request for backup to play the game. The pair were stationed near a robbery in progress, and after the responding officers put out a call for backup, Lozano and Mitchell seemingly ignored the call and left the area to go catch a nearby Snorlax.
LEGO is delaying the release of an Overwatch 2 set as the company reviews its relationship with Activision Blizzard. In a statement to The Verge, Alice Carter, LEGO’s senior manager of corporate brand communication, said “We are currently reviewing our partnership with Activision Blizzard given concerns about the progress being made to address continuing allegations regarding workplace culture, especially the treatment of female colleagues and creating a diverse and inclusive environment. While we complete the review we will pause the release of a LEGO Overwatch 2 product which was due to go on sale on February 1, 2022.” LEGO is the first gaming-adjacent company to take direct action against Activision Blizzard. Advertisers like Kellogg and Coca-Cola pulled their sponsorships from Overwatch last year following the first leak of the allegations against them. Other gaming companies like Microsoft and Sony have made statements against Activision Blizzard but none have yet to cease ties with the company.
Besides LEGO delaying their set release, Activision Blizzard was in the news again this week with an update to their controversy saga. It’s been just over a month since Activision Blizzard employees went on strike following the random termination of 12 contractors for the subdivision Raven Software QA team. Since then, employees have repeatedly gathered to share their demands of the company and enter peaceful negotiations. However, despite their best attempts, there have been no steps made towards reconciliation from leadership.
We have some very fun and unique titles coming out this week for all consoles. Coming out on the 17th is Shadow Man Remastered (Switch), followed by Nobody Saves the World (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC) and River City Girls (PlayStation 5) on the 18th. Releasing on the 20th are a few games, Expeditions: Rome (PC), Pupperazzi (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC), Rainbow Six Extraction (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC) and Windjammers 2 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC). We end this week with two video games releasing on the 21st, Baby Storm (Switch) and MouseCraft (Xbox One).
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