Blizzardrecently announced that it is working on a survival game set in a completely new fantasy universe. Gamers are always eager to see new IPs from major developers, and while very little is known about Blizzard’s upcoming survival game, it’s exciting to see the studio branching out.Blizzardis known for several successful IPs likeWorld of Warcraft, Diablo,andOverwatch,which won TGA’s Game of the Year trophy in 2016, but now it is taking steps in a whole new direction.
The game announcement was accompanied by a list of open positions on the team, which indicates that the title is still in fairly early development and may be little more than a concept. The revealed artwork, however, looks very promising. The main artwork on Blizzard’s announcement page shows two young teenagers stumbling upon a fantastical new world, appearing to leave the modern one behind. The second piece shows a mysterious tracker following luminescent footprints with a freestanding mirror in the background. It has potential, but there are likely other reasons why Activision Blizzard chose to announce the game now.
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The Activision Blizzard Lawsuit is Ongoing
To say the least, it has been aninteresting year for Activision Blizzard. The company’s reputation has been severely damaged by an alarming number of sexual harassment charges. After an investigation spanning several years, a lawsuit was finally filed against Activision Blizzard this past July, citing horrific acts of alleged sexual harassment and assault across several of Activision’s studios. According to reports, those in power did little to nothing to stop it despite being aware of the harmful and abusive work environment.
The fallout has been incredible, and the number of employees stepping forward with their own testimonies has multiplied. Activision has fired dozens of employees for sexual harassment, and formally disciplined dozens of others. The lawsuit is still ongoing, but after all these months fan and industry outrage has not gone away. It will take a long time for Activision to rebuild trust with fans and employees after allowing harmful behavior to continue for so long.
One thing is clear: a lot of work needs to be done within the involved Activision Blizzard studios to make it a safe and healthy place to work. Leaders have made statements expressing their desire torebuild trust in the Activision Blizzard brand, but that’ll take time. With the press about the toxic work environment being so widespread, Blizzard’s choice to advertise its new game and open positions right now is not coincidental.
Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Acquisition Changes Everything
Last week, Activision Blizzard took the gaming world by storm in an entirely different way.Microsoft announced that it acquired Activisionfor almost $70 billion - a sum that would undoubtedly have been much larger if not for the sexual harassment lawsuit. The elephant in the room can’t be ignored, and Xbox will need to step in to ensure the work culture at Activision Blizzard studios improves under its leadership, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Under Microsoft, Activision Blizzard employees have expressed excitement, and this could be what it takes to turn Activision around and mend the company’s culture and reputation. When the deal closes, Activision studios will report toMicrosoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencerand a diverse team of executives who have already pledged to cultivate a healthy and inclusive workplace.
Current Activision CEO Bobby Kotickwill allegedly step down when the deal is finalized, something fans and employees have been calling for since the lawsuit surfaced. His heavy involvement in the sexual harassment charges cannot be ignored by Microsoft, and it is unlikely that he will retain his position once the deal goes through.
If everything goes as planned, Activision Blizzard will be undergoing some necessary changes. With that in mind, it may be the perfect time to announce Blizzard’s new survival game and recruit new employees. Developers weren’t looking to go to Activision Blizzard a week ago, but now knowing that it will fall under Microsoft’s leadership, that may have changed. Microsoft is putting a lot on the line toacquire Activision Blizzardgiven the circumstances, and it shouldn’t take that responsibility lightly.
Activision has been getting a lot of positive media attention because of the Microsoft acquisition, and this announcement rides the wave. After a string oflong delays likeOverwatch 2andDiablo,it’s also important for Blizzard to beef up its release schedule to get players excited about what’s coming next.
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Blizzard’s New Survival Game Signifies a Fresh Start for Activision
Blizzard has had a rough year, and there’s a lot of change that needs to happen within the company before it will enjoy the popularity it once had. However, theMicrosoft acquisition of Activision Blizzardhas essentially given the studio a second chance, meaning the survival game announcement comes at the perfect time.
Developers interested in working onBlizzard’s new survival gamecan feel more confident when they submit their applications, knowing that Microsoft is committed to making the necessary changes within the workplace. For gamers, the new IP announcement symbolizes a fresh start. Blizzard shouldn’t abandon titles likeOverwatchandWorld of Warcraft,but confirming that the studio is trying something new is an important message to send fans. A new IP is always exciting to see, but the timing of the announcement is very intentional.
Everything about the announcement page points toward a fresh start for the studio, from the artwork to the verbiage. Blizzard is working to create a new fantasy universe with new heroes and stories to tell, and at the same time, it’s embarking on a very real journey to create a better work environment under new leadership. It’s probably too early in development to reveal anything concrete about the game, and there’s no hint at a release date, but the timing couldn’t be more perfect within the context ofwhat’s been happening within Activision Blizzard.
The new game could also be the beginning of Activision’s games becoming Xbox exclusive. Blizzard’s announcement confirmed that the new game will be released on PC and consoles, but it’s not yet confirmed which consoles will be included in the release. Microsoft has expressed interest in makingsome of Activision’s games multiplatform, such as futureCall of Dutytitles, but the survival game could be Blizzard’s first Xbox console exclusive.
The announcement allowsBlizzardto maximize positive press and show that it’s ready to leap into a new era. The survival game is still in early development and probably won’t be officially announced for quite some time, but fans of the studio and the survival genre have a lot to look forward to.
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