Six months after its acquisition by Microsoft in 2023, it sounds like it’s business as usual at Blizzard. In an interview with VGC, World of Warcraft executive producer and vice president Holly Longdale said that being part of Microsoft “just helps,” and for now the new owners are taking it lightly. He said he is working on it.
“We took the time to share information with Helen Chang at Mojang, so it was like we had access to something that worked for them,” Longdale said. “We need to talk to the Elder Scrolls Online team and share what we’re trying to do and what’s working. It’s like profiteering.
“No one is asking us for anything. World of Warcraft is doing very well and they’re very proud of what they’ve been able to accomplish. So we pretty much just left it there. They’ve been doing great things so far, and they’re like, ‘Let’s just let Blizzard be Blizzard.’
Longdale’s statement reflects Microsoft’s hands-off approach to Bethesda Softworks, which it acquired in 2021, several years after Xbox Studios restructured ZeniMax and its subsidiary studios (including Bethesda). Now that it is under direct control, that attitude appears to have come to an end. Matt Booty, president of game content and studios at Xbox. The change is believed to be at least partially due to the infamous fiasco of co-op shooter Redfall, with Arkane developers hoping to reboot or cancel the project. Despite this, Microsoft left it alone.
A similar scene could play out with Destiny studio Bungie, which was acquired by Sony in 2022. Bungie was originally supposed to operate as an “independent subsidiary,” but Destiny 2’s recent struggles have put pressure on it, PlayStation Chairman Hiroki Totoki said. In February, he said he wanted more “accountability” from Bungie’s management regarding development budgets and schedules, and feared Bungie would lose its operational independence if things didn’t improve. I have a hunch.
The proverbial Sword of Damocles may or may not be hanging over Blizzard’s head at the moment, but we can’t overlook the fact that Microsoft is already making some big changes to Blizzard. Activision Blizzard has suffered layoffs across Microsoft’s gaming division, and most notably, Blizzard announced its 2022 survival game with much fanfare. At the time, Blizzard described it as a “journey to a whole new world,” “a place filled with the heroes we have.” “Stories yet to be met, stories yet to be told, and adventures yet to be lived” had been in development for six years and by all reports had some exciting potential. , was rudely canceled.
Of course, the phrase “let’s let Blizzard be Blizzard” can also give rise to a variety of interpretations. As an old-timer, I have fond memories of this fractious studio in his mid-’90s where he had a great run with Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft. However, in recent years, allegations of widespread workplace misconduct at the company have led to questionable decisions and the departure of several prominent developers. The ABK Workers Alliance is an employee organization formed in the wake of a civil rights lawsuit filed against the company; thank you microsoft For not letting Blizzard become Blizzard after signing a “labor neutrality agreement” with the Communications Workers Union of America in 2022.
After all, Blizzard is Blizzard as long as it has a bunch of big, valuable games to its name, and I have little doubt that they’ll be happy to let them keep playing as long as Microsoft is printing money. At the end of the day (as Phil Spencer himself puts it), it’s his job to ensure Xbox is a “profitable, growing business,” he said earlier this year. I don’t know if it was Microsoft’s decision, Bethesda’s direction, or maybe Dinga Bakaba was just a big fan, but I’m not sure if Arkane (the studio responsible for Dark Messiah, Dishonored, Prey, etc.) was working. Given that, I have strong doubts that Blizzard will ultimately do what Microsoft wants when it comes to licensed Blade games.
