Blizzard Leisure has introduced that its new president is Johanna Faries, who beforehand spent practically three years as the final supervisor of Activision’s Name of Responsibility franchise. Faries will substitute Mike Ybarra, who unexpectedly introduced his departure when Microsoft laid off 1,900 workers from its gaming division final week.
In an e mail despatched to Blizzard workers, Faries mentioned “Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly totally different corporations with distinct video games, cultures, and communities,” and that she’s taking up the brand new place “with sensitivity to these dynamics, and deep respect for Blizzard.”
“I’m dedicated to doing the whole lot I can to assist Blizzard thrive, with care and consideration for you and for our video games, every distinctive and particular in their very own proper,” Faries wrote. “I’m optimistic about our capacity to serve our present and future participant communities, and to additional amplify the shared ardour for greatness, polish, and artistic mastery that could be a hallmark of Blizzard’s method to game-making.”
Faries joined Activision in August 2018 as commissioner of Name of Responsibility Esports, earlier than changing into head of leagues in August 2020 after which Name of Responsibility normal supervisor in April 2021. Previous to that, she spent practically 12 years with the Nationwide Soccer League in positions together with director of client merchandise and licensing, and vice chairman of promoting technique and fan improvement.
Her appointment represents a major change for Blizzard, whose leaders have up to now come up by way of the ranks of gaming and tech. J Allen Brack, who took over as president when Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime stepped down, started his time with the corporate as a producer on World of Warcraft: The Burning Campaign in 2007, and has intensive improvement credit previous that; Ybarra, who took the reins together with Jen Oneal when Brack resigned in 2021 over the office harassment and discrimination scandal at Blizzard, was beforehand the corporate’s normal supervisor of platform and expertise, and earlier than that served as vice chairman of Xbox Reside and Recreation Go at Microsoft. Oneal, who resigned simply three months after changing into Blizzard’s co-president, has a equally lengthy checklist of credit, together with 5 years as the pinnacle of studio at Vicarious Visions.
Hello all. Right this moment I despatched the beneath notice to @Blizzard_Ent. As for X: I play to remain in “hear mode” right here, however belief I am tuned in! As for me: a typical day=work life+yogi life+video games life. At the moment on heavy rotation: D4, COD, BG3. Feeling blessed & grateful??Onward. ✨ pic.twitter.com/Ph8XgsTcpkJanuary 29, 2024
Blizzard continues to be a giant identify in gaming, nevertheless it’s struggled lately to make good issues occur: World of Warcraft continues to trundle alongside, however Overwatch 2 perplexed followers with lacking PvE content material and controversial stability modifications, whereas Diablo 4 has been a hit however has additionally struggled stability points and faces stiff competitors from Path of Exile. A highly-anticipated survival sport was additionally cancelled final week after six years of improvement time. Faries’ background in enterprise and advertising relatively than sport improvement might be taken as an indication that Microsoft is not proud of the state of issues at Blizzard and needs to have a extra direct hand in its artistic route, just like its large shakeup of administration at ZeniMax and Bethesda.
“I stay impressed by Blizzard’s iconic legacy, and the transformative function gaming has performed in my life and within the lives of others,” Fairies wrote. “I can’t wait to get going—to hear, to be taught, to empower, and to collaborate with all of you on our daring and vibrant future collectively. Collectively, could we forge many legendary days forward.”
Faries will formally take over as president of Blizzard Leisure on February 5.