A federal judge will approve Activision Blizzard’s $18m settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), paving the way for compensation to be paid to alleged victims of workplace sexual harassment and discrimination.

Despite a last-ditch attempt by California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) to nix the agreement, US district judge Dale Fischer said she would give approval to the settlement as it was “fair, reasonable, and adequate and advances the public interest”.