| Recurring |
one_organization |
(a) The software failure incident has happened again at one_organization:
The software failure incident has happened again at Activision Blizzard-owned developer Raven Software. Quality assurance testers at Raven Software, responsible for checking for bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone," went on strike due to the company laying off 12 of the studio's quality assurance testers, leading to game-breaking bugs and issues severely hampering gameplay [123399].
(b) The software failure incident has happened again at multiple_organization:
There is no specific information in the provided article indicating that a similar software failure incident has happened again at other organizations or with their products and services. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article where quality assurance testers at Raven Software, responsible for checking for bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone," went on strike due to the layoffs of 12 contractors. This led to a situation where the game was left with game-breaking bugs and issues that severely hampered gameplay, impacting the overall quality of the game [123399].
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the same article where players of "Call of Duty: Warzone" reported experiencing various bugs and glitches that significantly diminished their enjoyment of the game. Issues such as invisible skins, game freezing on console systems, and guns not working after being picked up were mentioned, highlighting operational failures that affected the player experience [123399]. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system, outside_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident at Activision Blizzard, particularly at Raven Software, was primarily due to internal factors within the system. The failure was related to the layoff of 12 quality assurance testers at Raven Software, leading to a strike by over 60 workers in protest [123399]. The absence of these testers resulted in game-breaking bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone," impacting the gameplay experience for players [123399]. Additionally, the strike highlighted issues within the company, such as concerns about toxic corporate culture, harassment allegations, and the need for unionization efforts [123399]. The statement from Activision Blizzard mentioned engaging in dialogue with staff to address concerns and investing in development resources, indicating internal efforts to manage the situation [123399].
(b) outside_system: While the software failure incident was primarily driven by internal factors within the system, there were external repercussions as well. The strike and the resulting bugs in "Call of Duty: Warzone" led to dissatisfaction among players, with some expressing frustration over the game's state and the presence of cheaters in the lobbies [123399]. Activision Blizzard took legal action against a Germany-based business selling Call of Duty cheats, indicating external threats to the integrity of the game [123399]. Additionally, external entities like Xbox and Lego reconsidered their relationships with Activision Blizzard following allegations of a toxic corporate culture and harassment, reflecting the impact of external perceptions on the company [123399]. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to non-human actions:
The software failure incident in this case is primarily attributed to the strike by quality assurance testers at Raven Software, a subsidiary of Activision Blizzard. The strike led to a significant reduction in the workforce responsible for checking for bugs and glitches in the game "Call of Duty: Warzone" [123399].
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to human actions:
Human actions also played a role in the software failure incident. Activision Blizzard's decision to lay off 12 quality assurance testers at Raven Software triggered the strike by over 60 Raven Software workers, leading to a shortage of personnel responsible for ensuring the game's quality and functionality [123399]. Additionally, the company's response to the strike, including not meeting the demands of the workers and potentially recruiting replacement workers, further exacerbated the situation [123399]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
software |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to hardware:
- The articles do not mention any specific hardware-related issues contributing to the software failure incident. Therefore, it is unknown if hardware played a role in this particular incident.
(b) The software failure incident occurring due to software:
- The software failure incident in this case is primarily attributed to issues originating in software. Quality assurance testers at Raven Software, responsible for checking for bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone," went on strike due to the company laying off 12 of the studio's quality assurance testers, leading to game-breaking bugs and issues that severely hampered gameplay [123399]. The absence of these testers and the subsequent strike have been linked to the increase in bugs and glitches in the game, affecting the overall player experience. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
non-malicious |
(a) The software failure incident reported in the articles is non-malicious. The failure was primarily due to the strike initiated by over 60 Raven Software workers in protest of the parent company laying off 12 quality assurance testers. The strike was a result of the layoffs and the demand for reinstating the contractors and providing them with full-time positions [123399]. The absence of these workers led to a situation where game-breaking bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone" were not being addressed, impacting the gameplay experience of users [123399].
(b) The software failure incident was not malicious but rather a consequence of labor disputes and management decisions within the company, leading to a lack of adequate quality assurance testing and bug fixing in the game. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The software failure incident at Activision Blizzard, particularly at Raven Software, can be attributed to poor decisions made by management. The incident involved the layoff of 12 quality assurance testers, leading to a strike by over 60 Raven Software workers [123399]. The decision to lay off these testers resulted in game-breaking bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone," impacting the gameplay experience for numerous players [123399]. Additionally, the company's response to the strike, including not meeting the demands of the workers and potentially recruiting strikebreakers, reflects poor decision-making on the part of Activision Blizzard management [123399]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, unknown |
(a) The software failure incident occurring due to development incompetence:
The incident at Activision Blizzard involving the strike by Raven Software workers and the subsequent bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone" can be attributed to development incompetence. The strike was a result of the parent company laying off 12 quality assurance testers at Raven Software, leading to a lack of manpower to check for bugs and glitches in the game [123399].
(b) The software failure incident occurring accidentally:
There is no specific mention in the provided article about the software failure incident occurring accidentally. |
| Duration |
temporary |
(a) The software failure incident in this case appears to be temporary. The failure is attributed to the strike by Raven Software workers, particularly the quality assurance testers, who walked out in protest of layoffs and demanding better working conditions [123399]. The strike has been ongoing for over seven weeks, indicating that the software failure is not permanent but rather a result of specific circumstances introduced by the strike. The absence of these workers has led to game-breaking bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone," impacting the gameplay experience for players [123399]. |
| Behaviour |
value |
(a) crash: The software failure incident described in the articles does not specifically mention a crash where the system loses state and does not perform any of its intended functions.
(b) omission: The incident does not directly point to a failure caused by the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s).
(c) timing: The articles do not highlight a failure due to the system performing its intended functions correctly but too late or too early.
(d) value: The failure mentioned in the articles is related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. Quality assurance testers at Raven Software, responsible for checking for bugs and glitches in "Call of Duty: Warzone," went on strike due to issues like game-breaking bugs and glitches that severely hampered gameplay [123399].
(e) byzantine: The incident does not exhibit a failure due to the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The behavior of the software failure incident in this case is related to the system behaving in a way not described in the options (a) to (e). The failure is primarily attributed to the presence of bugs and glitches in the game, impacting the overall player experience and leading to frustration among gamers and content creators [123399]. |