Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard has resulted in the cancellation of Blizzard Entertainment’s untitled survival game set in an original universe. This news coincides with various layoffs across Xbox gaming teams and the resignation of Blizzard president Mike Ybarra, who had led the company since 2021. Ybarra’s departure comes with a heartfelt statement expressing his absolute honor of leading and shaping Blizzard team for the future.
Also leaving Blizzard is co-founder and chief design officer Allen Adham, who significantly influenced all of Blizzard’s games. He left Blizzard in 2004, returned over a decade later to lead the World of Warcraft developer, and plans to continue mentoring young designers across the industry. His exit is mourned, and Microsoft game content and studios president Matt Booty assures that his influence will be felt for years to come.
Blizzard’s axed survival game, announced in 2022, was set to be its first new original property since the Overwatch launch in 2016. It was also Blizzard’s first attempt at penetrating the survival genre, popularized by games like Minecraft, DayZ, and Rust. Now-canceled, this project was anticipated to introduce a world filled with untold stories, unforeseen heroes, and unexplored adventures.
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