Blizzard Leisure is doing one thing new: The studio revealed today that it is engaged on a brand-new survival recreation set in “an entire new universe,” and it is in search of assist to make it occur.
“We’re occurring a journey to an entire new universe, residence to a brand-new survival recreation for PC and console,” the studio stated. “A spot filled with heroes we now have but to satisfy, tales but to be advised, and adventures but to be lived. An enormous realm of chance, ready to be explored.”
The job listings cowl artwork, engineering, and design roles, and the person job listings reveal slightly extra about what’s in retailer. It is a “new AAA survival recreation,” and never a derivative of an current Blizzard recreation however a “new IP for PC/console,” set in “a world completely different from another Blizzard has created.”
We’re constructing a survival recreation in an all-new universe.Be a part of us in writing our subsequent chapter: https://t.co/yf7W5p9ERQ pic.twitter.com/vWtkDYh1kXJanuary 25, 2022
A brand new Blizzard recreation is huge information—it has been constructing on previous glories for years—however what makes this notably attention-grabbing is the timing, which comes only one week after Microsoft introduced its intention to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 million. The deal could not shut for greater than a 12 months, however there isn’t any ignoring the truth that sooner or later, Microsoft will formally take the lead within the decision-making course of.
The announcement contains two photos, neither of which (to my eye, at the very least) say a lot about what’s coming: A few children in a park who bump into a portal to an odd fantasy world (full with floating fort) and an elfin character carrying some sort of huge chook costume, who could or might not be making ready to spring towards a magic mirror hanging on a tree.
Whereas it is nonetheless early within the improvement course of, it is apparently not that early: Blizzard chief Mike Ybarra stated on Twitter that he is already “performed many hours of this mission with the staff.”
I’ve performed many hours of this mission with the staff and I’m extremely excited in regards to the groups imaginative and prescient and the brand-new world it presents for gamers to immerse themselves in collectively. Be a part of us to assist make it a actuality! https://t.co/pLhijX2Li9January 25, 2022
The hiring announcement emphasizes that Blizzard needs “a various staff of builders keen to lend their voices, to hear and to be heard.” It stays to be seen how effectively Blizzard’s groups and Activision Blizzard at giant observe by way of on such commitments, which come amid turmoil following months of allegations of sexism and harassment in Blizzard’s previous and current. Ybarra commented last week about efforts being made to rebuild belief in Blizzard, together with the addition of full-time management positions specializing in tradition, human assets, and variety, fairness, and inclusion, and a rise within the measurement of Activision Blizzard’s compliance and investigation groups.
