- Overwatch 2 was one of Steam’s worst releases this year.
- The game was criticized for expensive microtransactions and forcefully transitioning players to a new game.
- A former developer has recently blamed the CEO of Activision Blizzard for the poor launch of the game.
- He claims the team was already aware that this would happen, but they were not given resources to tackle the problem.
Activision Blizzard and Xbox joined forces this year for the gaming industry’s biggest merger. Following this acquisition, CEO Bobby Kotick has recently resigned from his position.
However, the reactions to his exit have been shocking, with many developers telling stories of poor management, misconduct, and rude behavior. Recalling Bobby Kotick’s management, one developer recently pointed to the launch of Overwatch 2 and claimed Blizzard already expected negative reviews for this release.
Why it matters: Overwatch 2 has been one of the biggest disappointments on Steam this year, becoming the second worst-rated game on the platform at one point.
https://twitter.com/andybelford/status/1740867335458898168
Following Bobby Kotick’s exit, former Blizzard developer Andy Belford pinned the poor launch of Overwatch 2 on the CEO.
The developer revealed that, months before the release of Overwatch 2 on Steam, the team knew the game would be review-bombed on the platform. They sought help from the CEO, as the developer described:
“We begged for more information, more details, and more resources to help us with the anticipated influx.”
However, Bobby Kotick refused to be of any help, leaving the team alone to deal with the aftermath of the Steam release.
The developer elaborated that the player or worker experience meant little to the executive leadership at Activision Blizzard. They only cared about the quarterly earnings calls and never appreciated the hardworking developers who spent time working on games.
https://twitter.com/andybelford/status/1740867341142077718
Overwatch 2 was also harshly criticized for its overpriced microtransactions. We wouldn’t be surprised if these decisions were made by the executive leadership.
Additionally, the decision to shut down the original Overwatch after the sequel proved to be unpopular. This may have been another example of Bobby Kotick’s interference to maximize profits and player retention.
While this was a genius business move, such measures have made Activision Blizzard quite unpopular among fans in recent years. This is mainly why many are not upset to see the CEO go.
It’s disappointing to see a studio like Activision Blizzard, which has given the industry so many memorable games, not giving its developers the respect and credit they deserve.
However, with Bobby Kotick no longer a part of the company, many are hopeful for a fresh start. Under Xbox’s leadership, various changes are expected at Activision Blizzard for a better future without compromising the publisher’s employees.
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