J. Allen Brack, Blizzard Entertainment President, Leaves Game Studio In Abrupt Departure

On the matter of the current situation over at Blizzard Entertainment and the greater Activision Blizzard conglomerate, many across the internet and the globe are in shock and demand change for the human rights violations that continued to take place over at its offices. So much so that the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit against Blizzard Entertainment with a two-year investigation conjoined with the filing.

As a result, players across multiple Blizzard & Activision titles are responding in protest to the discovery and also demand that changes are to be made at the companies. In one string of tweets from World of Warcraft Senior System Designer Jeff Hamilton, development has virtually halted since the initial discovery of housed ‘frat boy’ workplace culture at Blizzard Entertainment.

In a new announcement on Tuesday, Blizzard Entertainment President J. Allen Brack has departed from his role and the overall company. To fill the shoes as Brack exits, executive vice president and general manager of platform and technology Mike Ybarra & executive vice president of development Jen Oneal are to be co-leading Blizzard Entertainment.

I am pleased to announce that, effective immediately, Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra have been appointed co-leaders of Blizzard. Jen and Mike will share responsibility for development and operational accountability for the company. Both are leaders of great character and integrity and are deeply committed to ensuring our workplace is the most inspired, welcoming environment for creative excellence and to upholding our highest game development standards.

Many of us already know Mike and Jen and have experienced their leadership, their empathy and their unwavering sense of accountability […] With their many years of industry experience and deep commitment to integrity and inclusivity, I am certain Jen and Mike will lead Blizzard with care, compassion and a dedication to excellence. With Jen and Mike assuming their new roles, J. Allen Brack is leaving the company to pursue new opportunities.

Daniel Alegre, Activision Blizzard President and Chief Operating Officer

“I am confident that Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra will provide the leadership Blizzard needs to realize its full potential and will accelerate the pace of change. I anticipate they will do so with passion and enthusiasm and that they can be trusted to lead with the highest levels of integrity and commitment to the components of our culture that make Blizzard so special,” Brack shares in a statement in a separate blog post.

The writing continues by reassuring the new redirected leadership with both Ybarra and Oneal at the helm of Blizzard Entertainment following Brack’s abrupt departure. “Jen and Mike have more than three decades of gaming industry experience between them. Moving forward, they will share responsibilities over game development and company operations.

“Both leaders are deeply committed to all of our employees; to the work ahead to ensure Blizzard is the safest, most welcoming workplace possible for women, and people of any gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or background; to upholding and reinforcing our values; and to rebuilding your trust. With their many years of industry experience and deep commitment to integrity and inclusivity, Jen and Mike will lead Blizzard with care, compassion, and a dedication to excellence.”

Earlier this year, Blizzard Entertainment also said goodbye to another veteran at the game studio. In that, Overwatch creator Jeff Kaplan announced to be departing from the firm after working there for nearly two decades. You can read the full report by heading here.

Are you surprised by the turn of events for Blizzard Entertainment?

Source: Activision Blizzard, Blizzard Entertainment