Activision announced signing of UK Armed Forces Covenant

22 May 2024

Earlier this month, Activision, the studio behind hugely popular esports titles like Call of Duty and Overwatch, had big new to announce. In yet another wonderful development for esports in the UK, the California-based developer announced that they had signed the UK Armed Forces Covenant. As a result, the company, through its “Call of Duty Endowment” charity arm, formally commits to the UK Armed Forces as part of its efforts to raise both money and awareness for veteran employment.

Collaboration with partner charities

The Call of Duty Endowment is the department at Activision that focuses on charity through gaming. Through it, the company will be supporting UK military veterans in their search for employment. They will not do this by themselves though, as they will be collaborating with various charities and initiatives that were already working with and for veterans. This includes “Walking with the Wounded/Forces Employment Charity”, who provide Employment Advisors to help veterans find jobs that fit their skills and interests. Besides that, they also support them in overcoming personal challenges in their lives.

As for the UK Armed Forces Covenant which was signed earlier this month; this is a formal document whose signatories commit to upholding and respecting those who have served in the Armed Forces, as well as their families. By signing the Covenant, Activision wants to formalise its dedication to advancing veteran employment opportunities, in part through engaging gaming initiatives. Since its launch in 2018, the Covenant has already resulted in placements for almost 4.000 veterans in skilled roles throughout the United Kingdom.

“The Call of Duty Endowment and Activision Blizzard are proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant as a reinforcement of our commitment to being an armed forces-friendly organisation in the U.K”, Activision wrote on the LinkedIn account of Call of Duty Endowment earlier this month, “The celebration will take place tomorrow at the British Army vs. Royal Navy Rugby Match at Twickenham Stadium. Which team do want to take home the Babcock Trophy?”

Long-standing history of support

The signing of the UK Armed Forces Covenant is not the first time that Activision has shown its support and its commitment to armed forces and veterans in particular. For years, the company has been supporting various related organisations and not just in the United Kingdom. In the United States, for example, the Call of Duty Endowment already helped more than 125.000 veterans to find a job in both the US and the UK

“For 15 years, the Call of Duty Endowment and Activision have championed veteran employment through tangible actions, transformative grants, annual volunteering, employee donations and wider collaborative fundraising events”, says Helene Imperiale, Senior Director of the Call of Cuty Endowment, “We recognise the immeasurable value that veterans bring to the gaming industry. From engineering to game development, from strategy to teamwork, their impact is profound. At the heart of our contribution, lies the steadfast support of the Call of Duty community. Together, we stand as a force, ensuring that those who have served find meaningful opportunities beyond the battlefield. This is not just the signing of a pledge, but a promise upheld by our collective commitment.”