390°

Former Blizzard President Says Closures Hurt Phil Spencer 'as Much as Anyone Else'

The former president of Blizzard Mike Ybarra in a statement on Twitter says Microsoft Gaming CEO is hurting just as much as anyone else following the closure of three studios under Bethesda - Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Studios. Roundhouse Games is also joining ZeniMax Online Studios.

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vgchartz.com
jambola618d ago

Yeahhh I doubt it's hurting a millionaire as much as it's hurting fans and people who lost their jobs

VenomUK618d ago

Mike Ybarra‘s defence of Phil Spencer is the dictionary definition of tone deaf. Even Alanah Pearce, who’s close to Aaron Greenberg and Phil called him out on it.

“Mike, I have a lot of fondness for Phil and don’t doubt he’s incredibly bummed about this, but CEOs can handle some “shots” amidst people having their lives destroyed. Your sympathetic posts should solely be directed at those who’ve lost their jobs.”

https://x.com/charalanahzar...

GamerRN617d ago

What makes you think these are Phil's decisions? This is likely coming from Microsoft, and not the Xbox division.

Name Last Name618d ago

Phil is the only guy in the industry that has plot armor.

RNTody618d ago

Hahahahahahaha! xD Legendary comment.

lelo2play618d ago (Edited 618d ago )

At this moment, even Xbox fanboys are starting to hate Microsoft. It's fu**up, after fu**up, after fu**up... that's the state of Microsoft gaming.
Purchasing developers left and right, then killing them off...

Phil was the worst thing that happend to Xbox. Might as well just shut down their gaming division and fu** off

Jingsing618d ago

I can already hear Jim Ross.. He has a family damnit!

Barlos618d ago

Poor Phil. He must be crying into his bonus cheques. Makes your heart bleed doesn't it?

MrDead618d ago (Edited 618d ago )

I'm sure he'll be upset that those cheques contain a small percentage of money MS is still making from the closed studios games too. Next time someone purchases High-fi Rush or Evil within all that money is now just Microsofts, just think the former devs at Tango who made Hi-fi Rush MS's most highly acclaimed game in years will get nothing more.

MS are buying these publishers for the big IP's like Elder Scrolls and Call of Duty they have little interest in the ones that don't make huge profits... and firing thousands and closing studios looks good on the next quarterly shareholder report. Gotta protect the share price.

Eonjay618d ago (Edited 618d ago )

This is all coming from the executive who thinks we should have the option to tip devs... apparently so publishers can pay devs minimum wage. Will someone think of the C-suite executives!!!

dumahim618d ago (Edited 618d ago )

That was from a former Blizzard exec. Did Phil make a comment on that also?

edit: Oh, it wasn't Phil who said this himself.

HyperMoused617d ago

Gott alove the tought process on that...gentlemen we need think of more ways to get money out of these..gamers...wait..what if they just gave us their money..like for free.

LucasRuinedChildhood618d ago (Edited 618d ago )

Yeah, the guy making $10m a year is hurting as much as those who have lost their jobs and are worrying about their future and supporting their family. /s

It takes a real lack of shame to even try put the Good Guy Phil™ spin on this. It's not going to work this time.

Profchaos618d ago

He's sitting around feeling sorry when he should of been doing everything in his power to get people jobs in other studios you're telling me after toys for Bob split from Activision there wasn't a opening in the call of duty mines for arkane it's just woah is me.

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50°

Kotick claims lawsuit objecting to MS-Activision deal was "tied to Embracer's desire to boost sales"

Former CEO describes lawsuit filed by Swedish pension fund as a "collateral attack" on Activision Blizzard.

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gamesindustry.biz
OpenGL1d 4h ago

Yeah, the Microsoft deal has DEFINITELY worked out for everyone.

galgor1d 1h ago

Can this mother fucker just get lost already

PRIMORDUS1d ago

He belongs in here ⚰️, hopefully sooner than later.

MrDead8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Kotick Made $155 million from MS in the buyout, the little b*tch needs to stop whining. Thanks to this Microslop deal and massive industry consolidation thousands upon thousands of devs and other workers lost their livelihoods. This greedy piggie pervert needs shut up and f-off.

50°

Larry Hyrb (Major Nelson) announces he has been laid off by Unity

Larry writes: "As many of you have been with me during my career in gaming, I'd like to share personal news. Like many in the gaming space recently, I've been laid off from @Unity"

darthv722d ago

...me thinks a switch was involved.

1Victor2d ago

That’s some major layoffs best of luck to him and the rest that got laid off. It always hurt specially more before or during holidays.

The_Blue1d 18h ago

Cool, sucks to see him go!

elJoker51d 9h ago

Met Larry a couple times. Sucks to hear he got laid off. Real standup guy who just loves gaming and the industry.

SegaSaturn6691d 4h ago

Dude finally got laid at 58 years old. Bit of a weird flex but im still happy for the guy!🥂

30°

New owner of GOG discusses taking on Steam, the devil of DRM, and following in Nightdive's footsteps

"We see DRM as something which can make the life of a legal customer more difficult," says Michał Kiciński, "so there is no reason to keep it alive."

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gamesindustry.biz