Microsoft lays off 1,900 employees, Blizzard’s president and chief designer resign
Microsoft is set to lay off around 1,900 employees across the Activision Blizzard and Xbox divisions, while Blizzard’s president and chief designer resign
Microsoft is set to lay off approximately 1,900 employees across the Activision Blizzard and Xbox divisions. The layoffs, confirmed by many news outlets, will primarily affect roles at Activision Blizzard, with some employees from Xbox and ZeniMax also facing cuts. Following this lead, Blizzard’s president and chief designer announced their resignations.
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, confirming the layoffs in a memo, outlined the company’s commitment to aligning strategies and execution plans post the integration of Activision, Blizzard, and King teams. The memo expressed appreciation for the impacted employees’ contributions and acknowledged the challenges they face during this transition, assuring support, including severance benefits in accordance with local employment laws.
In addition to the workforce reduction, Blizzard’s President, Mike Ybarra, with over 20 years at Microsoft, has decided to leave the company after overseeing Blizzard’s acquisition. He assured that he will be doing his best to help those who are impacted by Microsoft’s decision in an X post.
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…
— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) January 25, 2024
Furthermore, Blizzard’s Chief Design Officer, Allen Adham, is also departing. Matt Booty, Microsoft’s game content and studios president, announced plans to name a new Blizzard president next week.
Source: Newsroom
