Activision settles DOJ lawsuit over esports salary suppression.

Activision Blizzard settles with the US Department of Justice over claims that it instituted an anti-competitive salary cap for players in its Call of Duty and Overwatch esports leagues. The cap, called the Competitive Balance Tax, was used to prevent richer teams from outbidding others for the best talent, but in practice, it deflated wages for all players. Activision Blizzard has agreed to a consent decree that prohibits it from imposing any kind of tax or salary cap in the future. The settlement comes as the publisher faces accusations of anti-competitive behavior amid its pending acquisition by Microsoft.