Other high-ranking employees -apkrig are leaving Blizzard
The case around Activision Blizzard is constantly evolving, despite the apparent feeling of mild calm. Following a lawsuit filed on behalf of the State of California by the Office of Fair Working Conditions, there were a series of statements and comments, as well as personnel changes. They touched high-ranking people, including Blizzard President J. Allen Brack and one of the world’s leading World of Warcraft designers, Alex Afrasiabi. Newly joined are three other important employees who, in the light of current events, were forced to leave, although the real reasons were not disclosed by the company’s representatives. From his posts were left Luis Barriga, as the game director of the emerging Diablo IV, the leading level designer for the same game Jesse McCree and last but not least Jonathan LeCraft, another of the designers of the game World of Warcraft.
Kotaku magazine came up with the information, which was to reach the company’s internal mail, from which the described fact follows. The magazine’s source was also supposed to confirm that the above names no longer figure among the personal files of employees and no longer have access to Slack for mutual communication and sharing of internal information. When asked by Kotak and other media, a spokesman spoke about the whole event, not directly commenting on the departures, but highlighting the crowd of capable people who are able to take the lead. “We have a long list of talented developers and new leaders have already been appointed. We are convinced that we are able to maintain progress, provide players with a great gaming experience and move towards a safe and productive work environment for everyone, ”says Activision Blizzard.
On the other hand, another of the designers – Cory Stockton – who was also captured in the photo, remains employed at Blizzard.
As for the three developers with whom the employment contract was terminated, they are veterans who were directly responsible for the core parts of the individual titles. In the case of Jesse McCree and Jonathan LeCraft, the connection with the previously discussed incident related to the so-called Cosby apartment is also mentioned, which was supposed to be resting hotel room for developers during trade fairs or cones. He left Alex Afrasiabi last year to be accused of sexual harassment in the Cosby Suite, and it is likely that the presence of LeCraft and McCree in a photo from that room, accompanied by a picture of Bill Cosby, served as an argument for current personnel changes. On the other hand, another of the designers – Cory Stockton – who was also captured in the photo, remains employed at Blizzard, although he is currently suspended according to Kotak. It is also fair to add that another participant in Cosby’s apartment – designer Greg Street, who currently works at the Riot Games – denied that there was any indecency in the room and that the current interpretation of the meaning of this room is said to be untrue. Actor Bill Cosby’s accusation of sexual harassment of several women was not publicized until after the room was named in this way, and the leaks from the participants’ private chat are also misunderstood, but according to Street, a naturally inappropriate joke.
However, this is not the only thing that Activision Blizzard has to deal with after the protest march and the lawsuit of the group of shareholders. The SOC Investment Group, which is a regular opponent of Bobby Kotick’s high salary, did not spare criticism either. In its last statement, it challenged Activision’s statements mainly due to the absence of specific ways to solve the problems. SOC CEO Dieter Waizenegger has indicated that Activision Blizzard should transform its leadership for inclusion and diversity, with financial bonuses lost to all senior executives through whom passed inappropriate behavior of subordinates in the workplace and, most importantly, the company should undergo an audit of the parties’ fairness, equality and safety in the workplace, as has happened in Facebook, Air B&B or Starbucks. However, Activision has not yet responded publicly, and Bobby Kotick’s statement that Activision Blizzard will change and set an example for the entire gaming industry remains valid.
