Blizzard has reportedly reduce 50 folks from its workforce as the corporate shifts away from reside occasions, a call introduced on by the coronavirus pandemic.
In keeping with a Bloomberg report, the affected staff come from assist departments largely chargeable for reside occasions, together with esports matches. An organization spokesperson mentioned that Blizzard and its esports staff has “needed to adapt” to the world’s new situations.
“Gamers are more and more selecting to attach with our video games digitally and the e-sports staff, very similar to conventional sports activities, leisure, and broadcasting industries, has needed to adapt its enterprise because of the affect the pandemic has had on reside occasions,” the spokesperson mentioned.
These affected will get a minimum of 90 days severance and well being advantages for a yr, Bloomberg stories. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, in the meantime, took residence over $30 million in 2019. This has been disputed by critics, although Activision itself continues to defend Kotick’s salary.
This information comes regardless of Activision Blizzard posting report income within the final yr, together with raking in some $1.2 billion from microtransactions and Call of Duty having its biggest year ever. Activision Blizzard even announced plans to hire over 2,000 employees this yr.