Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard led to a reduction of 1,900 employees. Mike Ybarra, President of Blizzard Entertainment, has announced his departure. Ybarra expressed his sentiments in a heartfelt statement. He acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding the day’s events and extended his support to his colleagues, encouraging those affected to contact him for assistance, networking, or endorsements.
Ybarra’s tenure at Blizzard, marked by significant leadership and contributions, came to a close, a decision he shared with the Blizzard community. He reminisced about his journey, leading the company through transformative times and contributing to its future direction. Ybarra, with a long history at Microsoft before his time at Blizzard, decided it was time to support the company from the outside following the recent acquisition.
He extended his gratitude to the Blizzard teams, emphasizing their exceptional work, urging them to continue their dedication to excellence and innovation, and placing the community and players at the heart of their decisions. Ybarra’s message was of appreciation, solidarity, and continued support, reflecting on the strong bonds formed and the collective achievements made during his tenure at Blizzard.
I want to thank everyone who is impacted today for their meaningful contributions to their teams, to Blizzard, and to players’ lives. It’s an incredibly hard day and my energy and support will be focused on all those amazing individuals impacted – this is in no way a reflection…
— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) January 25, 2024
