Das horror

Original text too short.

2021 was no less than a catastrophe for Blizzard. We let all incidents review — so you do not forget so fast.

The year 2021 is coming to an end and a lot has happened in the video game industry. Unfortunately, much was quite uncomfortable. Especially around Activision Blizzard — with a special focus on Blizzard — there were many, many scandals. Not only the games have almost all dropped in the prospective player, including the company itself. A great sexism scandal and ever new allegations and reports of those affected came to the daylight. Something that is not demolished until today.

We take a look at the Scandal Year 2021 and lists the most important incidents of the ranks. The perfect overview for all who may not have noticed any incident — or have forgotten again, what's going on.

The year 2021 for Blizzard — a terror year without joy

Notes that this collection does not claim for completeness. The incidents and allegations are too numerous to list them all individually. But this temporal process should give you a good overview of how much in 2021 actually happened to Activision Blizzard.

20 . April: Father Jeff works

For Overwatch and Blizzard fans this was a raven black day. Jeff Kaplan, one of the most important developers of Blizzard, goes. He announced his departure in an open letter and thanked for 19 great years.

Many know his work from World of Warcraft, because he was one of the original quest designers of the basic game.

Jeff Kaplan was one of the most famous faces of Blizzard for many. A friendly man with a lot of self-assay, who was always in contact with the community. At Christmas, he was seen at his Yule Log. But away, too, there were always funny and entertaining stories with him — such as the parodies of his Overwatch announcements or the incident, in which a staff does not know his name.

20 . July: The big indictment

Right Lot it was only in July. On July 22, it became known that the state of California complains against Blizzard. At the heart of the charges was the Frat Boy Culture and Sexual Harassment.

The indictment already went a long-term investigation. This gave himself that male colleagues at work drank a lot of alcohol and then moved from office to the female employee office.

Among other things, it should also have occurred on events, such as the Blazon, inappropriate rapprochement attempts and sexual harassment.

21 . July: The first statement of Blizzard

The Shit storm on the Internet already raged when Blizzard published a first statement. You felt the prosecution as a monstrous. Many points there are simply wrong or strongly outdated. Blizzard has shown cooperative in the investigation and met for all demands.

Above all, the incident of a suicide in the district of the company led to criticism. Because, according to Blizzard, was moved into a wrong light, though he had nothing to do with the other incidents.

Indirectly, Blizzard threatened to the state of California — incidents like these and that and that of such unjustified processes have repeatedly expelled companies from California in the past.

The opinion ensured that over 2,000 current and former employees signed an internal letter. They no longer have confidence in the current leadership, the security of employees under the interests of the Group.

22 . July: Blizzard boss manifests itself

The then Blizzard boss, J. Allen Back, wrote an internal e-mail to all employees. He condemns the incidents who have given it. He explicitly speaks against the Bro Culture and have fought his whole career against that.

Almost at the same time Fran Townsend sent an internal mail to the employees. The mail was in the stark contrast to what Back had written. Townsend explained that the court proceedings show a distorted and untrue picture of the company and that many of the incidents are there ripped out of context or very old. Such an indictment should not undermine the culture of respect and equal treatment, which is currently in Blizzard.

Blizzard employees then organized a Walkout — they protested and dissatisfied with the reaction of the leadership. One does not take the problems and allegations seriously, making it out of the victims perpetrators because they have reported and raising allegations.

25 . July: Working to World of Warcraft comes to a standstill

Jeff Hamilton, the Senior Systems Designer for World of Warcraft explained that would stay still quasi by the events working on MMORPG. He explained that the allegations should be seriously taken up and processed.

The team around World of Warcraft was not working due to the reaction of Activision currently able. You'd much talk among themselves and now work up the whole house. It stated Hamilton:

Quasi no work is being done on World of Warcraft, while this obscenity unfolds. And that does not help anyone — not the players, not the developers and not the shareholders.

27 . July: World of Warcraft game content changes

The developers have announced that inappropriate content in World of Warcraft and WoW: will amend Classic. First concerns the only names of developers who are mentioned in the indictment. Especially the many allusions to Alex Afroasiatic be eradicated from the game.

But even more is happening: Bobby Kick, CEO of Activision Blizzard writes its own statement and said that the previous statement did not respect the concerns and problems of employees. He promised that the company would most exactly investigate every allegation and will make its processes to the test.

At the same time, Walkout will take place on that day in which the Blizzard protest against the actions. To publish a list of demands, what needs to change.

3 . August: The Blizzard CEO resigns, two new moves up

J. Allen Back resigned from Blizzard as president. According to his statement he would seek other ways. The management of the company went over following a double top. Mike Ibarra and Jen Oneal should co-lead Blizzard.

That a man and a woman together took the lead, a sign of equality and diversity should at the same time put in the company.

On the same day of the regular Earnings Call was held — the theme of the ongoing process and the allegations but was thereby excluded as much as possible.

11 . August: Blizzard releases three major developers

It was announced that three major developers do not work there any more Blizzard. That's Luis Barrier, the director of Diablo 4, Jesse McCrae, the lead level designer and Jonathan Le Craft.

Exact reasons for the progress of the employees were not named, but the assumption was obvious that it had to do with current events. After all McCrae and Le Craft were also involved in the incident around the so-called Cosby Suite bosses Blizzard is having fun in the number of Blazon with women and are said to have shown sexist generally right.

27 . August: Overwatch nominate a hero to

After the allegations against Jesse McCrae, after also the cowboy was named in Overwatch, the Overwatch team reported. They would rename in the coming days and weeks McCrae. A new name was not then revealed, but wanted to leave so the community a little lead time.

The renaming of a hero has been controversial and also that Overwatch contents were delayed resulted. Both factors led to resentment, although there were many players who could understand why the name change must take place.

14 . September: Activision Blizzard to prevent union

The employees of Activision Blizzard had launched a while ago the ABK Worker Alliance, which is now extreme criticism. Activision Blizzard has always tried to avoid setting up a merger as a union. Corresponding plans were prevented by the bosses and soon came up such thoughts, the appropriate people have been harassed, so that the foundation each time did not materialize.

21 . September: One of the Overwatch leaders go

Although Overwatch was 2 not yet published, even Check Sonny Blizzard has left. Who was the executive producer of Overwatch (2) — a game that was postponed indefinitely.

The progress of Check Sonny seems to have not to do with the ongoing investigations — are against it, at least no known complaints before. Nevertheless, a serious blow to the Overwatch team might have been.

19 . October: Blizzard releases 20 more employees

France Townsend explained that in the last weeks and months, after the annoying of harassment, over 20 employees have been released. Although there are no names mentioned that employees are accurately affected, this should be a sign that the allegations are seriously taken and now consequences.

At the same time it was announced that the Ethics and Compliance team has been enlarged, and other places should be created here in the coming years to monitor corporate culture and such allegations.

26 . October: The BlizzConline 2022 is canceled

Another bad news arrives because the BlizzConline 2022 was canceled. That was a digital event, quasi the online variant of the Blazon. Here new games were presented, or pending releases prepared and information with the communities of games exchanged.

That the Blazon fails for many players a clear sign: so soon there will be no new Games of Blizzard. The year 2022 is likely to be very poor for gamers and Blizzard fans.

2 . November: The Blizzard boss throws after a few months

Jen Oneal, who had taken over only a few weeks ago with Mike Ibarra Blizzard as a lead duo, listens.

She returns from her item and leaves Blizzard to devote new goals. Why she makes that, strange. In their announcement, she writes that she pursue new goals' wool and hope to be able to take more influence on the industry elsewhere to promote diversity and diversity as well as the strengthening of women in the Games industry.

Many wonder about this step.

16 . November: CEO Bobby Kick device in the focus

Also, the Overdose Bobby Kick is now in the focus of the scandal. A long report of Wall Street Journal reveals that Kick has probably known for years of abuse allegations, but kept them.

There were also allegations in which Kick should have threatened an employee with death.

17 . November: Jen ONEAL reveals salary details

The departure from Jen Male apparently had other reasons. As now known, she had paid her worse than her colleague Mike Ibarra in the same position. Both had insisted that they should get the same money for the item — but that was rejected again and again.

Only when Oneal did their termination in the room, one should have offered their equal contract, which they then refused — their decision was already taken.

For employees and community is clear: Activision Blizzard is not really interested in equal rights and diversity if you do not even treat the two bosses equivalent.

18 . November: Employees demand the resignation of Kick

In a petition, more than 1,000 employees of Activision Blizzard participate and demand the resignation of CEO Bobby Kick. They believe that the man is unable to fix the problems as he should have themselves smaller and refurbished themselves for years.

22 . November: Bobby Kick is considering resignation

At least, the CEO Bobby Kick sets its resignation if he could not resolve the problems with Activision Blizzard timely and efficient. An exact date he does not bind to these words.

5 . December: Activision Blizzard dismisses many QA employees

It became known that Activision Blizzard is released from quality assurance in the period between 3 and 8 December — for those affected, it is quite unexpected. Anger and incomprehension can be experienced by many sides.

6 . December: Game Awards Close Activision Blizzard

The The Game Awards event excludes Activision Blizzard from all promotions. There will be no trailers or other content, only the existing nominations will continue to be considered.

The Game Awards are an annual event where not only the best games are honored, but many developers also show new trailers and announce games — the perfect place for PR in a positive environment.

How is it in 2022?

That's a pretty exciting question. It should be clear that the pressure on Blizzard will not replace so fast. Whether your own employees, the player, investors or other sizes from the industry — the focus on Activision Blizzard will be for a while.

Whether Bobby Kick will still be the CEO at the end of the year is questionable. The pressure of all sides increases. If Activision Blizzard can not turn the corporate culture in the coming 12 months in the coming 12 months, then Kick will probably be untenable — after all, he had already placed his resignation if he can not solve the problems promptly and efficiently.

First, 2022 must be one: one year in which Blizzard can heal.

But even off the whole scandals, Blizzard needs to be hardworking on their own games to be able to inspire the old fans. Overwatch 2, Diablo IV and the next WOW extension are not likely to appear in 2022, but are likely to stuck in the high-phase of their development.

In 2022 the year in which no one is expected of Blizzard big jumps, which are visible to the outside. It is quasi the gravity and the healing phase, which one has to leave time.

Only 2023 will then show whether Activision Blizzard can convince with the games and the corporate culture has got under control.

But if the time comes back again, in which one could say with a good conscience: So I play only Blizzard games!... that's more than questionable.