Blizzard Is Already Losing Its First Female Studio Co-Head

Jen Oneal, who assumed joint responsibilities of the top place at Blizzard in August, will phase down from the firm at the conclude of the year, she wrote in a assertion nowadays. In the meantime, she’ll changeover to a new but unspecified job at Activision Blizzard. Her co-guide, Mike Ybarra, will just take above the relaxation of her responsibilities effective right away.

Team, like those aspect of the ABK Alliance, discovered about Oneal’s departure all through an trader phone this afternoon.

“This is a unfortunate minute for many of us at ABK, who were being psyched to have a new knowledge with a Woman of Coloration heading our company,” the ABK Alliance wrote on Twitter. “We found out for the duration of our Shareholder meeting—and wish Jen perfectly in her upcoming endeavors.”

Through that same shareholder meeting, Activision Blizzard introduced the delays of Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV. In August, Diablo IV’s director and lead designer ended up let go from the company in the wake of popular allegations of harassment and discrimination, moreover damning evidence of a so-known as “Cosby suite” at 2013’s BlizzCon occasion.

“There’s certainly been a transform in management,” Ybarra reported on today’s contact in reaction to the delays, but demurred on sharing precise release dates.

Amid a landmark lawsuit against the firm more than allegations of harassment, former Blizzard president J. Allan Brack stepped down from his purpose, a position he’d held considering the fact that 2018. Oneal and Ybarra promptly took over his position.

“I want you to listen to from me personally that I have made the selection to action away from co-leading Blizzard Amusement and will changeover to a new situation before departing ABK at the conclude of the yr,” Oneal wrote currently. “I am accomplishing this not due to the fact I am with no hope for Blizzard, pretty the opposite. … This power has inspired me to stage out and explore how I can do much more to have game titles and variety intersect, and hopefully make a broader marketplace effects that will benefit Blizzard (and other studios) as effectively.”

In the wake of Oneal’s departure, Activision Blizzard, which attained $8.1 billion in earnings very last 12 months, will donate $1 million to the nonprofit corporation Women in Online games Worldwide.

Further reporting by Ian Walker.