Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Blizzard must now 'discuss, evaluate, and bargain' its AI usage with its developers
Blizzard Entertainment's union, in partnership with the Communications Workers of America, has secured a new contract that requires the company to discuss and bargain over the implementation of generative AI in the workplace. This landmark agreement, impacting around 1900 workers, also includes wage increases, job protections, and enhanced severance for layoffs, offering a significant victory for labor rights in the gaming industry.
Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers ratify first union contract with Microsoft
Blizzard Entertainment employees, represented by newly formed unions, have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with parent company Microsoft. The contract, lasting four to five years, includes protections for generative AI use, crediting, remote work, and layoffs, establishing a 60-day notice period for job cuts and 14 months of recall rights. Meanwhile, Activision's subsidiary King has rejected a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish trade unions.
Blizzard Workers Win Historic Union Contract That Could Set A New Standard For Game Developers
Blizzard Entertainment employees, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), have secured a historic union contract with Microsoft. The agreement includes workplace flexibility, guaranteed wage increases, AI job automation guardrails, and job-recall rights for laid-off employees. This contract is seen as a potential blueprint for other video game industry unions.
Almost 1,900 Blizzard workers vote through a "historic" union contract securing protections against layoffs and gen-AI
Approximately 1,900 unionized workers at Blizzard Entertainment have ratified their first contract, securing protections against layoffs and mandating bargaining over the use of generative AI. This historic agreement provides enhanced severance and recall rights for employees across multiple game teams, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.
Casually Classic: Tempering personal expectations for the WoW Classic BlizzCon announcement
The author discusses tempering expectations for the upcoming World of Warcraft Classic announcement at BlizzCon 2026. While acknowledging the community's intense speculation and anticipation, the piece advises a more grounded approach to receiving the news, suggesting that the reality may differ from fan-driven rumors.
Unionised Blizzard workers vote through contract giving them a say on genAI adoption and protection against layoffs
Unionized Blizzard Entertainment workers have ratified a new contract that requires the company to negotiate with them over the use of generative AI tools and provides protections against layoffs. The contract covers approximately 1900 staff and includes provisions for recall rights for laid-off employees and additional severance pay. This development occurs amidst ongoing workforce reductions at Microsoft's gaming division.
20 years later, veteran WoW director says players outsmarted him completely in Ahn'Qiraj: 'All that work, and…
Former Blizzard game director Wyatt Cheng reflects on the Ahn'Qiraj raid in World of Warcraft, specifically the Prophet Skeram boss encounter, admitting players outsmarted his intended mechanics. He details how players used various in-game exploits and UI mods to easily identify the real boss, despite his efforts to create a challenging illusion mechanic.
"It's a new day at Blizzard": Union wins historic contract protecting 1,900 World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and more workers as Microsoft plans another 1,600 layoffs
Blizzard Entertainment union members, represented by the CWA, have secured a new contract covering 1,900 workers across titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. The agreement includes strong protections against layoffs and mandates negotiation over the use of AI in game development. This comes as parent company Microsoft plans further layoffs across Xbox.
Nearly two thousand Blizzard developers secure a union contract that includes AI safeguards and layoff protection
Nearly two thousand unionized Blizzard Entertainment developers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), have secured a new contract. This agreement includes wage increases, a hybrid work week, and significant protections regarding layoffs and the use of artificial intelligence in development. CWA president Claude Cummings Jr. lauded the contract as a new industry standard.
Blizzard union workers ratify historic contract covering 1,900 employees
Employees at Blizzard Entertainment, a subsidiary of Microsoft, have ratified a new union contract covering 1,900 workers represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The historic agreement includes protections for AI usage, layoff recall rights, improved severance, wage increases, and a three-day hybrid work week, setting a new industry standard.
Nintendo Direct live report - the big news and announcements as Switch 2's winter line-up revealed
Nintendo's September Direct showcase focused on games coming to the Nintendo Switch this winter, including a release date announcement for FromSoftware's The Duskbloods and potential reveals for Diablo 4 and The Witcher 3 Remastered. The presentation also touched upon Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Snabbkollen: Köper du nya Ocarina of Time?
Nintendo has announced a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, set to release on November 7th for the Nintendo Switch. The article also features reviews for "The Blood of Dawnwalker," "Star Wars Zero Company," and "Mortal Shell 2," alongside news about "Valheim," "Orbitals," and "Justin Wack and the Big Time Hack."
What To Expect From BlizzCon 2026: StarCraft’s Return, A Whole Lot Of Warcraft
BlizzCon 2026, scheduled for September 12, is poised to be a major event for Blizzard Entertainment, with significant announcements expected across its key franchises. The convention will likely reveal more details about World of Warcraft's next expansion, The Last Titan, and potentially a new version of World of Warcraft Classic. StarCraft is set to make a substantial return, possibly with a new shooter title and a partnership with Nexon. Diablo will celebrate its 30th anniversary with news on Diablo 4 and potentially other franchise entries, while Overwatch will continue its momentum with new heroes and story developments.
WoW Factor: Exploring the content and systems of World of Warcraft’s Curse of Ula’tek
The 12.1 patch for World of Warcraft, Curse of Ula'tek, is described as a middle-of-the-road update with both improvements and drawbacks. While the core gameplay remains strong, new features like the Venomous Abyss raid, the 'lair' system for world bosses, and the Prey feature are criticized for visual monotony, reduced rewards, and lack of variety, respectively. The article suggests Blizzard is struggling to build upon the solid foundation of recent expansions.
Why Casual Gamers Are Drawn to Short, Reward-Heavy Games
This article analyzes the psychological design behind virtual currencies in games like Overwatch 2 and Path of Exile, explaining how they reduce the 'pain of paying' and encourage spending. It contrasts Blizzard's fixed-rate currency with Grinding Gear Games' player-driven orb economy, noting how these models influence player behavior and can extend beyond gaming into other digital products.
StarCraft Shooter Has a “Full-Blown” Single-Player Campaign, Akin to Space Marine 2 – Rumor
Rumors suggest Blizzard Entertainment is developing a StarCraft shooter with a full single-player campaign, drawing comparisons to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Far Cry. Jez Corden of Windows Central claims to have seen pre-alpha footage and believes the game will feature a strong narrative focus, potentially with co-op elements, though multiplayer is also expected.
As StarCraft teasers continue in the build-up to BlizzCon, mounting evidence suggests that a character who disappeared…
Blizzard Entertainment has initiated a mysterious teaser campaign for StarCraft 2, potentially hinting at the return of the character Sarah Kerrigan. The campaign involves strange transmissions and an Alternate Reality Game, reminiscent of past ARG efforts for the franchise. This activity, occurring shortly before BlizzCon, has fueled speculation among fans about new content or even a potential StarCraft 3.
Don't count on the rumoured StarCraft game being a Destiny-like, says Jason Schreier
According to reporter Jason Schreier, the rumored next StarCraft game is unlikely to be a Destiny-style live service shooter. Information from Jez Corden suggests it might be more akin to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 or Far Cry. Blizzard Entertainment is expected to reveal more at BlizzCon.
World of Warcraft's Venomous Abyss raid is "what we'd hoped for" from the war on add-ons, Ion Hazzikostas explains
Blizzard Entertainment's Ion Hazzikostas and Paul Kubit discuss the impact of banning combat add-ons in World of Warcraft's latest expansion, Midnight. They believe the change has successfully encouraged more vocal raid leading and human cooperation, aligning with their hopes for the game's progression. The developers also touch on ongoing UI improvements and adjustments to bonus roll mechanics.
Blizzard frestar med något Starcraft-relaterat inför helgens Blizzcon
Blizzard Entertainment is expected to announce something Starcraft-related at BlizzCon, with rumors pointing towards a new shooter or real-time strategy game. Hidden messages on the official Starcraft website hint at new content, while speculation suggests potential involvement from developers like Creative Assembly.
