Blizzard announces February 5th is the first day for Johanna Faries as
President of Blizzard Entertainment following the
departure of
Mike Ybarra along with hundreds of other former employees. Faries joined
Activision as part of the Call of Duty team, most recently as General Manager of
the franchise. The post gives us a look behind the curtain at her message to her
colleagues, which touches on the individuality of Activision, Blizzard, and
King, at least for now:
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.