LogInMike Ybarra is sure that the company's future under Xbox's owner will be bright.
Image credit: Blizzard, World of Warcraft
After Microsoft finalized the $69 billion deal of acquiring Activision Blizzard, all of Blizzard's renowned franchises, such as World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch came into Microsoft's possession. Recently, Mike Ybarra, the President of Blizzard Entertainment, has spoken with The Verge and shared some thoughts on this collaboration and what opportunities the partnership with the Xbox owner can open.
"I think the way [Spencer] approaches building teams and focusing on culture and enabling creative freedom is going to give Blizzard a lot more of that sense of being an independent studio than ever before," Ybarra shared. "That's what I really mean when I talk about a new era of possibilities, of empowerment, of serving players even better than we ever have," said Ybarra.
Also, Ybarra shared that its employees would primarily focus on their profitable series such as Overwatch, Warcraft, and Diablo. However, the company also plans to allocate resources for the development of non-mainstream games, including a new installment in the StarCraft series. Additionally, Blizzard hinted that if the series does make a comeback, it may explore an entirely different genre.
Image credit: Blizzard, Overwatch 2
Also, Phil Spencer, who recently visited the Warcraft studio with Xbox's leadership team to meet the employees, enthusiastically declared that the future of Blizzard would be exceptionally bright. Spencer acknowledged Blizzard's far-reaching influence, praising their enduring legacy and groundbreaking development work that showcases a level of care and craftsmanship rarely seen in the industry. He emphasized Xbox's commitment to bringing more exceptional games to a broader audience across various platforms. With Blizzard now a part of Xbox, Spencer expressed a dedication to preserving the essence of what makes Blizzard unique.
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