Earlier this week Microsoft introduced it meant to accumulate Activision Blizzard for an eye-watering $68.7 billion. That is the biggest deal in gaming historical past and the ramifications of will probably be felt for years to come back, however among the instant questions are a few sequence of harassment lawsuits confronted by the corporate, and ongoing allegations about Blizzard’s workplace culture and treatment of female employees.
Former Blizzard president J Allen Brack stepped down in August 2021 within the wake of a lawsuit filed by California’s Division of Truthful Employment and Housing alleging widespread discrimination and sexual harassment on the firm. He was changed by Mike Ybarra and Jen Oneal, who took over as co-heads of the studio, marking the primary time that Blizzard had been led by a girl.
Three months later, nonetheless, Oneal introduced that she would leave Blizzard by the end of the 2021. It later emerged that, throughout her time in publish, she had been paid lower than her male counterpart.
Following announcement of the proposed Microsoft acquisition, Blizzard head Mike Ybarra has written a blogpost addressing the deal and the corporate’s plans with reference to office tradition.
“I’ve been main Blizzard for a few months now, and along with the thrilling information this week, I need to share some preliminary ideas as we attempt to place our crew and gamers on the forefront of all the things we do,” writes Ybarra.
“2021 was difficult for all of us. As people, we care about treating everybody round us with respect and dignity. As professionals, we care deeply about our crafts, and we need to work in probably the most supportive and secure atmosphere attainable.
“Our prime precedence—now and into the long run—is the work we’re doing to rebuild your belief in Blizzard.”
Ybarra touches on among the suggestions Blizzard has been receiving and goes on to focus on among the modifications the corporate is making.
“We’re measuring our government and administration groups immediately in opposition to tradition enchancment. This implies their (and my very own) success and compensation will immediately depend upon our total success in making a secure, inclusive, and artistic work atmosphere at Blizzard.”
It additionally appears like Blizzard did not have a lot of an HR division earlier than or, no less than, it wasn’t doing a lot. Ybarra says the corporate will quickly rent “a Tradition chief who will assist us keep the perfect points of what we’ve got at the moment, and alter and evolve the place wanted to make sure everybody brings their greatest self to Blizzard” alongside “a brand new organizational chief for Human Sources who will construct belief” and “a Range, Fairness, and Inclusion chief solely targeted on our progress throughout a number of efforts on this space.”
The corporate now has clear inside pointers about applicable conduct which applies to all staff together with, Ybarra factors out, management and administration. The publish additionally particulars additional inside work, together with setting objectives round illustration and an “upwards suggestions program” for evaluating administration.
Lastly, Ybarra briefly talks video games. “We additionally know we have to ship content material to our gamers on a extra common foundation and innovate each in and past our current video games. We now have some thrilling issues to announce, and I’ll be sharing extra subsequent week.”
It was introduced in November 2021 that both Overwatch 2 and Diablo 4 would be delayed, and so they’re solely those we learn about. World of Warcraft’s Shadowlands growth went down nicely on launch however the recreation has subsequently felt stagnant (albeit nonetheless wildly profitable), whereas Starcraft appears to be on one thing of a hiatus. Lost Vikings reboot anyone?
