Summary
- Reports indicate that Blizzard is considering 130 layoffs in its Ireland office, causing even more concern over job stability for employees.
- Recently, Microsoft cut 1,900 jobs in Activision Blizzard division, including notable departures and project scrapping.
- An increase in gaming industry layoffs have been happening in 2024, with recent Visual Concepts and Embracer Group studios recently undergoing reductions.
Recent reports have revealed troubling news for employees at Blizzard, indicating that the renowned gaming company is considering another round of layoffs. Specifically, the reports outline plans to cut over 130 positions at the Cork, Ireland office, raising concerns about job stability within Blizzard.
Recently, Microsoft made the decision to reduce its workforce by 1,900 individuals, mainly within the Activision Blizzard umbrella, amounting to an 8% reduction in the gaming division's staff, which previously stood at approximately 22,000 employees. Notable departures following the layoffs include President Mike Ybarra and Chief Design Officer Allen Adham, along with the scrapping of an undisclosed survival game project first announced in early 2022. Additionally, the entirety of customer support teams at Activision Blizzard King (ABK) were let go, with Microsoft intending to subcontract support for Blizzard games, anticipating repercussions across various departments, including community management.
Microsoft Layoffs Hit Sledgehammer Games and Skylander’s Toys for Bob
More workers seem to be affected by Microsoft's massive layoffs, now affecting employees at Skylanders’ Toys for Bob and Sledgehammer Games.
More Layoffs Looming at Blizzard
A recent report from the Irish Examiner reveals that Blizzard Entertainment is gearing up for layoffs affecting 136 employees at its Cork, Ireland office. With a presence in Ireland for over a decade, Blizzard currently employs approximately 200 individuals at this location. Michéal Martin addressed the issue in the Dáil, highlighting the considerable impact on affected employees and their families. Another individual named Mick Barry, frmo the People Before Profit TD, criticized Blizzard for its refusal to engage with the trade union chosen by the workers, arguing that companies shouldn't be allowed to implement such significant job cuts without consulting the representatives elected by their loyal employees.
"Companies should not be allowed to waltz into this country, announce life-changing cutbacks to people's jobs and simply refuse to talk to the representatives chosen by people who have given long years of service to their employer," Mr Barry said.
It's noteworthy that Blizzard Entertainment has yet to provide an official response. Additionally, Microsoft's recent layoffs have garnered attention, particularly after the FTC's submission to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on February 7. The FTC argued that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard could potentially be reversed due to Microsoft's prior assurances that significant job cuts wouldn't be necessary post-acquisition. However, Microsoft refuted this claim the following day, asserting that Activision had already planned substantial workforce reductions prior to the acquisition.
In recent times, the gaming industry has witnessed a surge in layoffs, with no signs of abating. Just last month, reports emerged indicating that Black Forest Games, a German video game developer under the umbrella of THQ Nordic owned by Embracer Group, is contemplating laying off approximately 50% of its workforce. This development follows similar actions taken by other Embracer-owned studios, such as 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks, which announced layoffs in December.
Further contributing to recent layoffs, WWE 2K24 developer Visual Concepts also underwent workforce reductions. It is always unfortunate to learn of hardworking individuals within the video game industry being unexpectedly laid off, and one can only hope that they will soon secure promising employment opportunities.