Gisteren maakte Microsoft bekend dat maar liefst 1900 mensen worden ontslagen wegens een herstructurering in Microsoft gaming.
Blizzard Entertainment lijkt hard geraakt te zijn. De nieuwe survival IP genaamd Project Odyssey waar 6 jaar lang aan gewerkt werd, is geannuleerd. Mogelijk zijn veel mensen die aan deze game hebben gewerkt, ontslagen. Ook Blizzard-president Mike Ybarra vertrekt per direct. Ybarra heeft zelf de beslissing genomen om te verteken naar aanleiding van de lay-offs bij Blizzard Entertainment. Microsoft gaat volgende week een nieuwe President noemen bij Blizzard Entertainment. Allen Adham, Blizzard’s chief design officer, heeft ook besloten om te vertrekken. Adham was één van de oprichters van Blizzard.
Blizzard-president Mike Ybarra over de lay-offs en zijn besluit om te vertrekken
“I want to thank everyone who is impacted today for their meaningful contributions to their teams, to Blizzard, and to players’ lives. It’s an incredibly hard day and my energy and support will be focused on all those amazing individuals impacted – this is in no way a reflection on your amazing work. If there’s anything I can help with, connections, recommendations, etc., DM me.
To the Blizzard community: I also want to let you all know today is my last day at Blizzard. Leading Blizzard through an incredible time and being part of the team, shaping it for the future ahead, was an absolute honor. Having already spent 20+ years at Microsoft and with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard behind us, it’s time for me to (once again) become Blizzard’s biggest fan from the outside.
To the incredible teams at Blizzard – thank you. Words can’t express how I feel about all of you. You are amazing. Continue to do incredible things and always keep Blizzard blue and the player at the forefront of every decision.
To all of those impacted today – I am always available to you and understand how challenging today’s news is. My heart is with each one of you.”
Blizzard Entertainment is de studio achter geprezen games zoals World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, Hearthstone, StarCraft en Heroes of the Storm.
