We're now learning what roles across Blizzard and Overwatch 2 have been terminated by microsoft. All indicators point towards an arbitrary decision to cancel, or at the very least, heavily scale back any and all future PvE content for the game.
SOURCES
https://twitter.com/TheHornetsFury/status/1750612652873928949/photo/1
former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra says he plans to "travel the world," after departing Microsoft on the same day 1,900 job cuts - that greatly impacted the Blizzard division that Ybarra oversaw - were announced pic.twitter.com/Yhd48VRQZd
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) January 26, 2024
Just got laid off with basically my entire team. Can't really process it atm. After the rocky launch of OW 2 we finally built up a great team that was working on some awesome stuff. Then suddenly we all get laid off. Cant even go get stuff off my desk today.
— Jorge Murillo 💙 (@TheHornetsFury) January 25, 2024
Mission designers, I’m so sorry ;——;
— Monika Lee (@MnikaLee) January 25, 2024
My time with the legendary Overwatch team ended today with the recent round of layoffs. I'm so proud of what my team and I have accomplished.
Now, it's time to find my next dream project. Let me know if you see one!
— Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie 💙 @gavinetc.bsky.social (@GavinEtc) January 26, 2024
It was me, I’m affected. I’m just shaking. https://t.co/07QlEpBiS3
— Monika Lee (@MnikaLee) January 25, 2024
I’m pretty fucking heartbroken, I loved my job so much, and I love Overwatch and I still can’t shake the feeling like I didn’t do enough. I’m going to miss everyone so much.
— Monika Lee (@MnikaLee) January 25, 2024
jobless! anyone who can refer me to a job ASAP I will be so glad to hear from you - I am on an O1 visa until 2026 but will need a sponsor for my next gig.
bellacgart@gmail.com
T4 was a special place to work in, this was the highlight of my career so far.#BlizzardLayoffs
— bella 💙 (@TheArtofBella) January 25, 2024
Well I was “impacted” by the lay-offs and honestly have no words other than I loved my team, I loved our game, and I am so proud of everything we accomplished. Will probably make a portfolio post in the future once I stop crying. Wish everyone the best.
Love you forever T4 💙
— julia 🐯💐✨ (@Jul_tn) January 25, 2024
I was unfortunately impacted by the layoffs at Blizzard today. Turns out getting let go from your dream job is just as surreal as being offered it. Looking for Houdini FX work in the VFX industry, but also have a lot of experience doing VFX in game engines now!
— crett (@brettcadet) January 25, 2024
I am completely devastated. I was cut as part of the huge Blizzard layoffs 😭 Working on Overwatch has been the biggest dream come true, OW was my life. Best team ever, and I had done so much for it 💔 I'm absolutely heartbroken. I'll be looking for work once I stop crying.
— Molly Warner ✨ MollsieWallsie (@mollsiewallsie) January 25, 2024
Hello everyone, I’m also impacted by the blizzard layoff today. I’m on a timer cuz I’m on a visa. Please let me know if you have info about any FPS pve opportunities.
— Angela Wei (@EnchantedWhale) January 25, 2024
I'll cherish the time spent at my dream job and am grateful for the opportunity to have met some of the most talented and kind-hearted developers. Working with you all has been truly a blessing.
The transition will take some time to process, and my heart goes out to those…
— ikhandle (@ikhandle) January 25, 2024
laid off alongside a whole host of wonderful events designers
pretty gutted but doing what i can for friends
— cydereal (@cydereal) January 25, 2024
Well, it happened…. I was part of the Blizzard layoffs. This is so unreal and it’s been horrible watching everything unfold and seeing everyone cry. If anyone has any open game animation roles, please send them my way 🥲
— ⚡️ Cait Lamb ⚡️ (@Caiterdoodles) January 25, 2024
Well I guess I’m no longer at Blizzard Entertainment. A short but delightful ride. I love all of you.
— Wabbit (@WabbitBuilds) January 25, 2024
I was just laid off from Blizzard 😭 I was there for over 5+ years just for them to tell me on the day of that I have to pack my stuff and leave. I recently updated my reel luckily so I had it ready to go so I'm posting it here in case there are any leads. Plz let me know thx 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Qc10ZPFXZ7
— Jilmar Andres (@andrestopmo) January 25, 2024
It was a literal dream to have been a member of the lore team for the last 6 years with the most incredible team.
I was laid off today, along with several other incredibly brilliant people. Please send any jobs leads my way, I've got quite the plethora of transferrable skills.
— madi b. is 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕜 (@madilynjoy) January 25, 2024
I was laid off today and I am feeling all the things.
— Alina💛Quiñones (@NES_Alina) January 26, 2024
Just like some many other incredibly talented people my role on Overwatch was impacted this morning. To say working on Overwatch was a dream come true would be an understatement (1/3)
— Nikolas (@novembrwolf) January 26, 2024
What a fucked up day. Half the environment art team cut from OW2, folks I helped hire and train. associate-senior levels looking for work if your teams have openings plop em below.
— 💙◭ Lucas Annunziata ◮💙 (@Annunziata3D) January 25, 2024
I cannot describe to you the feeling of watching your colleagues announce one by one, in real-time, that they were impacted. Some of them didn't even get that chance to tell us.
My department was pretty much gutted. I'm furious.And the best part? I still don't know if I'm safe
— Andrew 💙 (@_AC0M_) January 25, 2024
I have not lost my job, but I have lost so many incredible teammates that I do not know where to begin. When I look back at all the work I have done in the past year, and the tasks I was headed for next, I am struck by that loss. The overwatch team is made of amazing people. 1/x
— Jen Stacey Eaves 💙 @askjeaves.bsky.social (@askjeaves) January 26, 2024
Honestly odyssey was like my biggest hope for blizzard. Talented team, a great idea, the game was still legitimately fun when I left. But it looks like bad decisions after bad decisions spiraled it down. What a waste of talent. I hope my friends at blizz can find a place asap.
— Michael vicente - Orb (@orb_3d) January 25, 2024
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