Following Riot Entertainment's recent controversial layoffs, Blizzard Entertainment has shockingly followed suit. Microsoft has announced a significant workforce reduction, affecting 1,900 employees at Activision Blizzard and Xbox. This cut represents approximately 8% of Microsoft Gaming's extensive workforce, totaling 22,000 employees.
Mike Ybarra and Allen Adham Step Down
Blizzard Entertainment's President, Mike Ybarra, has officially departed after an impressive 22-year tenure at Microsoft. Additionally, the original Co-founder since 1991, Allen Adham, has stepped down from his position as Senior Vice President. Both leaders made voluntary decisions to leave Blizzard Entertainment. Microsoft is set to announce a new Blizzard president next week.
Blizzard Entertainment also announces the cancellation of its upcoming Survival Game. Learn more about the whole situation here.
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Xbox Leadership Changes
These sweeping changes coincide with recent leadership shifts within Xbox, including Sarah Bond's appointment as Xbox president and Matt Booty's role as president of game content and studios, overseeing Bethesda, ZeniMax studios, and Activision Blizzard.
The State of Gaming
These layoffs occur concurrently with similar actions by other industry giants like Riot Games, Discord, and Twitch, all announcing substantial workforce reductions. This collective trend sheds light on the challenging state of the gaming business, despite the undeniable growth in gaming popularity as a hobby.
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