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Activision Blizzard knowledgeable Vicarious Visions workers Wednesday that the studio would lose its title as a part of its ongoing merger with Blizzard Leisure, sources instructed Polygon.
The studio behind Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 and a couple of and work on the lately launched Diablo 2: Resurrected was formally merged with Blizzard Leisure in January. Vicarious Visions had been working with the Overwatch and World of Warcraft writer for a while, however the official merger meant that its main focus would shift to “long-term assist” of Blizzard video games.
Vicarious Visions staff instructed Polygon that they have been initially below the impression the merger meant their employer would proceed to function as its personal studio, though it was owned by Blizzard. The information in regards to the title drop got here throughout a city corridor assembly on Wednesday morning. A brand new title for the studio has not been introduced, however some staff speculated that it may very well be merely referred to as Blizzard Albany. (Vicarious Visions’ workplace is positioned in Albany, New York. Blizzard sometimes makes use of this naming conference for its satellite tv for pc workplaces, for instance, Blizzard Austin in Texas.)
In August, former Vicarious Visions studio head Jen Oneal was named a co-president of Blizzard Leisure. (She was named an government vp of improvement at Blizzard in the course of the January merger.)
Polygon reached out to an Activision Blizzard consultant about this improvement. We’ve got not heard again as of publication time.
Many of the Vicarious Visions workers who spoke to Polygon mentioned they aren’t essentially shocked by the announcement, with one noting that the “writing was on the wall.” However no less than one employee was disillusioned by the shortage of transparency and sudden announcement throughout a “mild and fast” assembly on what workers described as a dressing up day. Some workers have been wearing Halloween costumes in the course of the name.
Management mentioned there have been no layoffs at the moment deliberate, in accordance with the staff who spoke to Polygon. With the merger already introduced and underway, staffers didn’t count on a lot to alter in any other case, however some workers famous that there have been nonetheless quite a lot of questions unanswered.
“For all the management’s speak about being extra clear in response to the lawsuit and ensuing fiasco, the actual fact they determined to blindside us all with this feels about as removed from clear as you will get,” an worker instructed Polygon.
Vicarious Visions was based in 1991 in Albany, N.Y. by then high-schoolers Karthik and Guha Bala, who at present lead Velan Studios, builders of Knockout Metropolis for Digital Arts. The Balas offered the studio to Activision in 2005 and left it in 2016.
Previous to the studio’s formal merger with Blizzard Leisure, Vicarious Visions had labored on ports for titles like Final Spider-Man, Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy.
Activision Blizzard at the moment faces wide-ranging allegations that it maintains a poisonous office surroundings that’s significantly hostile to girls. California’s Division of Honest Employment and Housing (DFEH) investigated the corporate for 2 years earlier than submitting the lawsuit, and located that ladies are paid much less and topic to sexual harassment, with out significant punishment utilized to perpetrators. Within the interval for the reason that lawsuit was filed in late July, the DFEH has expanded its grievance to incorporate allegations that Activision Blizzard “suppressed” proof in its investigation. The corporate denies that declare.
Activision Blizzard can also be at the moment dealing with a number of lawsuits and a U.S. Securities and Trade Fee investigation. One in every of its lawsuits, filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Alternative Fee, was settled for $18 million earlier this 12 months.
Greater than 40 Activision Blizzard workers have been disciplined within the months following the preliminary DFEH lawsuit. Additionally in its wake, Blizzard made good on its promise to rename the Overwatch character previously generally known as Jesse McCree: He’s now Cole Cassidy.
Employees on the firm have continued to talk out on social media and elsewhere to encourage substantial change. You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the allegations towards Activision Blizzard in Polygon’s explainer.
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