Layoffs in the video game industry are truly an inevitability. Sometimes, the layoffs are a natural part of the gaming cycle, while others are the result of financial hardship for the developers in question. There have been many rumors that Activision-Blizzard would be next on the list of companies to release many of their workers, and now, it’s happened. 800 workers in the company have been let go. This is a massive layoff across all divisions, and many are shocked at this.
Here was the official statement on the matter:
Over the last few years, many of our non-development teams expanded to support various needs,” Blizzard president J. Allen Brack mentioned in an employee-sent email obtained by Kotaku. “Currently staffing levels on some teams are out of proportion with our current release slate. This means we need to scale down some areas of our organization. I’m sorry to share that we will be parting ways with some of our colleagues in the U.S. today. In our regional offices, we anticipate similar evaluations, subject to local requirements.”
Layoffs of that number are never fun to think about as that means there’s a lot of people looking for jobs that many not be in abundance. Ever since the announcement was made though, the industry, and fans, have been weighing in on the situation:
My heart is absolutely breaking for those affected by the Activision-Blizzard layoffs today. I’ve been laid off before by a company I worked so hard for, it’s not easy. I’m so, so, SO sorry to those that received that news today …
Others shouted a rallying cry to help get these people jobs:
The news about alleged Activision/Blizzard layoffs next week could mean hundreds of great game makers will be without work. We can’t have that.
Regardless of what happens to Activision-Blizzard now, it’s going to have a lot of hurt eyes on it.
