Microsoft, the major corporation that recently acquired massive game publisher Activision Blizzard, has announced a new Blizzard Entertainment President: Johanna Faries.
The New Blizzard Entertainment President
According to a post on Blizzard's website, an email was sent to all employees by new Blizzard Entertainment President Johanna Faries. The position of President became open after Microsoft laid off almost 2,000 employees and former President Mike Ybarra departed.
In her letter, Faries attempts to address various concerns and possible questions regarding this change in management.
Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly different companies with distinct games, cultures, and communities. It is important to note that Call of Duty’s way of waking up in the morning to deliver for players can often differ from the stunning games in Blizzard’s realm: each with different gameplay experiences, communities that surround them, and requisite models of success. I’ve discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team and I’m walking into this role with sensitivity to those dynamics, and deep respect for Blizzard, as we begin to explore taking our universes to even higher heights.
I am committed to doing everything I can to help Blizzard thrive, with care and consideration for you and for our games, each unique and special in their own right. I’m optimistic about our ability to serve our current and future player communities, and to further amplify the shared passion for greatness, polish, and creative mastery that is a hallmark of Blizzard’s approach to game-making.
The mention of Call of Duty may be about the work history of the new Blizzard Entertainment President. According to her LinkedIn page, Faries' prior positions include being the Commissioner of the Call of Duty Esports league as well as being the GM for Call of Duty.
Faries is not wrong either when it comes to Blizzard Entertainment's output. While the military shooter franchise has made consistent annual releases since 2003, Blizzard's output has spanned multiple genres and tones.
From the gothic dungeon crawlers of Diablo to the high fantasy MMO World of Warcraft to the hero shooter Overwatch, the studio has appealed to players of all shapes and sizes.
Faries' appointment as the new Blizzard Entertainment President is in the aftermath of a wave of layoffs from other major publishers in the industry. Amazon's gaming division, Embracer Group, Tencent, and even tabletop giant Hasbro have let employees go.
