It’s going to be a different piece than my normal when I treat Activision Blizzard. I’m not exactly happy with the news. To be precise, I do not like the news. However, it’s more about timing than anything else. However, I am knowledgeable enough about the industry and even a blind person could see the direction the game industry was heading. Let’s summarize before we get in touch with the new information.
It’s about corporate BS, and I wrote it. It has opinions.
Activision Blizzard is a business that is doing better than ever before. It is a company that regularly fires hundreds of staff members during its best years ever. This includes firing staff who are directly involved in improving their games for players while lying to the public by calling them ‘non-development staff’. Activision Blizzard was aware of my messages about this and has since pointed out that they should not classify localization, customer support and more as ‘non-development’, and not that it helps.
After more than 1,000 people were laid off, the company announced that it would have to hire at least 2,000 new staff. It was then that Activision Blizzard would lay off even more staff members and say they should lay off staff for ‘growth opportunities’ and to ‘stay competitive’. Finally, we arrive earlier this week and the news of even more layoffs, which will provide the fired staff with a $ 200 Battle.net gift card, while CEO Bobby Kotick will be paid $ 200. million in cash. Do not forget that the companies avoid their annual record of paying tens of millions in taxes annually.
Let it sink in. Some people whose jobs are definitely needed after COVID have been fired if they find work as difficult as possible have received a $ 200 Battle.net gift card. Although Kotick is going to get a $ 200 million cash bonus.
So we come to the most recent news. In a piece on GamesIndustry.biz, a source said that Activision Blizzard is considering plans to enter another round of redundancies. These redundancies will continue to close the office in the Netherlands and one in France. According to what has been said, it would appear that the company wants to manage all its European operations from a center in the UK, with redundancies affecting staff in Germany, Spain, Sweden, two offices in the Netherlands and also staff in the UK.
In response to this information, Activision Blizzard said:
Players are increasingly choosing to connect digitally with our games. We shared plans with our teams in Europe on how we would develop as an organization, to adapt to this change to serve our players and to best position the region for future growth. We will take extensive steps to support all employees and facilitate the transition for those of our colleagues who may be affected by these proposed changes.
In essence, Activision Blizzard wants to remove the vast majority of staff members involved in publishing in Europe. It’s staff who get the games on the boards. As more players go digital and the life of smaller, independent game stores increases, so does the need for publishing staff. I’m well aware that these people’s work will end up on an even smaller team in the UK unless Activision hires Blizzard in the UK, even while firing some.
Activision Blizzard wants to make it very clear that these layoffs will not affect the localization and customer service teams. Honestly, I can understand the consolidation. Digital has long been physically overtaken, and COVID has accelerated it.
Like I said, my complaint comes with the timing. These proposed layoffs will be the fourth round in just six months, with earlier layoffs affecting key development roles and those to be brought back to COVID. This dismissal will take place during a pandemic that affects almost everyone except Activision Blizzard, which is doing better than ever before. These layoffs also come when Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, wants a $ 200 million cash bonus.
I assume the posts can be consolidated due to the nature of the digital move. Yet, perhaps, just perhaps, are the staff that has helped Activision Blizzard earn billions upon billions in the past worth watching the pandemic? Agree or disagree, your choice, but I believe that businesses have a moral obligation to their staff. Not to keep them forever, but I can be sure that Kotick’s $ 200 million can be cut a little.