New Leadership at Blizzard Entertainment: A Turn Towards Innovation
Blizzard Entertainment, the renowned video game developer and publisher, has announced a significant change in its leadership. Johanna Faries, who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Call of Duty franchise at Activision, will now take on the role of President at Blizzard Entertainment. Faries replaces Mike Ybarra, who recently announced his departure following Microsoft’s layoff of 1,900 employees in its gaming division last week.
In an email sent to Blizzard employees, Faries expressed her commitment to the unique identity and culture of Blizzard, stating, “Activision, Blizzard, and King are unquestionably different companies, with distinct games, cultures, and communities.” She also emphasized her deep respect for Blizzard and her intention to embrace these dynamics in her new position.
Faries, who joined Activision in August 2018 as the Commissioner of Call of Duty esports, progressed to become the Head of Leagues in August 2020. She then assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer for Call of Duty in April 2021. Prior to her time at Activision, Faries spent nearly 12 years in various positions at the National Football League, including Director of Consumer Products and Licensing, as well as Vice President of Fan Strategy and Marketing Development.
This appointment marks a significant shift for Blizzard, which has traditionally had leaders with backgrounds in gaming and technology. J. Allen Brack, who took over as President after Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime’s resignation, started his career at the company as a producer for the game World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade in 2007. Ybarra, who assumed leadership alongside Jen Oneal when Brack resigned in 2021 amidst the workplace harassment and discrimination scandal at Blizzard, previously held roles as the Head of Platform and Technology at Blizzard and as Vice President of Xbox Live and Game Pass at Microsoft. Oneal, who stepped down as co-president of Blizzard just three months after assuming the position, also boasts an extensive list of achievements, including a five-year tenure as the head of Vicarious Visions studio.
Blizzard remains a major player in the gaming market, but it has faced challenges in recent years. While World of Warcraft continues to thrive, Overwatch 2’s lack of PvE content and controversial balance changes have disappointed fans. Similarly, Diablo 4 has encountered balance issues and must contend with strong competition from Path of Exile. Furthermore, a highly anticipated survival game was canceled last week after six years of development. Faries’ background in business and marketing, rather than game development, may be seen as a signal that Microsoft is not satisfied with the current state of affairs at Blizzard and intends to have a more direct influence on its creative direction, similar to the restructuring of ZeniMax and Bethesda under Microsoft’s umbrella.
“I remain inspired by Blizzard’s iconic legacy and the transformative role that games play in my life and the lives of others,” Faries wrote. “I can’t wait to begin—listening, learning, enabling, and collaborating with all of you to create our shining future together. Let’s pray we have many legendary days ahead.”
Johanna Faries will officially assume the role of President at Blizzard Entertainment on February 5th.
FAQ:
1. Who is the new President of Blizzard Entertainment?
Johanna Faries will become the new President of Blizzard Entertainment. She previously served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Call of Duty franchise at Activision.
2. When did Johanna Faries join Activision?
Faries joined Activision in August 2018 as the Commissioner of Call of Duty esports, and then progressed to become the Head of Leagues and later the Chief Executive Officer for Call of Duty.
3. What positions did Johanna Faries hold before joining Activision?
Before joining Activision, Faries spent nearly 12 years in various positions at the National Football League, including Director of Consumer Products and Licensing, as well as Vice President of Fan Strategy and Marketing Development.
4. Who will Johanna Faries replace?
Johanna Faries will replace Mike Ybarra, who announced his departure following Microsoft’s layoff of 1,900 employees in its gaming division.
5. What difficulties does Blizzard Entertainment face?
Blizzard Entertainment has faced challenges in recent years. Overwatch 2 has disappointed fans due to the lack of PvE content and controversial balance changes, while Diablo 4 has encountered balance issues and faces competition from Path of Exile.
6. When will Johanna Faries assume the position of President at Blizzard Entertainment?
Johanna Faries will officially assume the position of President at Blizzard Entertainment on February 5th.
Definition of key terms:
– Blizzard Entertainment: [source](https://www.blizzard.com/)
– Call of Duty: [source](https://www.callofduty.com/)
– Activision: [source](https://www.activision.com/)
The source of the article is from the blog foodnext.nl