According to World of Warcraft producer Adam Glaxigrav, Activision Blizzard is currently experiencing a staffing “crisis” that may potentially affect the quality of their games. Glaxigrav claims that the company is losing exceptional talent because of an unwillingness to listen to the game directors responsible for producing their products.
In a recent tweet, Glaxigrav stated,
“Blizzard is losing amazing talent because someone in power doesn’t listen to the game directors who make his products.”
Glaxigrav expressed his concerns in the thread, stating that Blizzard is apparently facing a critical loss of capacity due to the departure of talented individuals. He also clarified that the loss of staff is not just affecting the quantity of the workforce but also its quality, which is a serious concern for the company.
Being loud about it because I've lost yet *another* person this week.
Blizzard is losing amazing talent because someone in power doesn't listen to the game directors who make his products. DE&I also means diversity of thought, especially when it's backed by data and financials.
— Adam 💙 #ABetterABK (@Glaxigrav) April 18, 2023
Despite this setback, Glaxigrav remains committed to creating outstanding video games and delivering amazing experiences for gamers. He believes that Blizzard has the potential to continue producing critically acclaimed and commercially successful games if they retain its talented workforce. Furthermore, Glaxigrav expressed his optimism for the future, stating that Blizzard still has many exciting ideas to explore and execute.
Many people on YouTube were not surprised by the reports of poor treatment of employees at Blizzard, given the company’s past negative actions. However, some pointed out that this kind of treatment of employees is no longer acceptable, and talented game developers will simply find other companies to work for if they are not treated well.
They have further expressed shock at what some people are willing to accept in the workplace, referencing past treatments at Blizzard. However, others criticized developers who wanted to work from home, accusing them of laziness as the company announced its employees to return back to the office.
The video game developer behind the World of Warcraft (WoW) franchise is facing criticism from its own employees over its return-to-work policy. Senior game designer Allison Steele has spoken out against the company’s decision to require employees to return to the office, stating that it has already caused the loss of some talented individuals and will continue to do so in the future.
https://twitter.com/SteeleGame/status/1648538392513183745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1648538392513183745%7Ctwgr%5Efe9230c34c728add534945b474b960f0002c09c3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fin.ign.com%2Fdiablo-iv%2F182771%2Fnews%2Fblizzard-producer-claims-studio-is-creating-crisis-maps-as-more-employees-depart
According to Steele, the policy is “terrible, shortsighted, and self-destructive” and is having a negative impact on the company’s ability to deliver the quality of games that its players deserve. She argues that the forced return to the office is weakening the company’s ability to attract and retain the kind of talent necessary to develop successful games. Many are worried that it will harm morale and productivity, as well as the company’s reputation.
Blizzard has not yet responded to the criticism, but the company has faced similar backlash in the past over its treatment of employees. In 2018, the company was hit with a lawsuit over allegations of widespread sexual harassment and discrimination.