'We begged for more information, more details … all flatly declined': former Blizzard community development manager tears into Bobby Kotick over Overwatch 2's Steam launch
Activision-Blizzard's transfer over to the growing empire of Microsoft has been a bit of a drama, to say the least—but it's all over now, its curtains called with the departure of the company's former CEO Bobby Kotick, exiting stage right.
Kotick has been a controversial figure in gaming, quickly building up a reputation as a ruthless capitalist—like when Activision-Blizzard sued Double Fine over Brutal Legend, prompting the studio's founder Tim Schafer to call him a «total prick». There was also a disastrous interview with Variety where he denied the allegations of sexual harassment problems at Blizzard as an «aggressive labour movement»—as well as a harrowing instance where he reportedly threatened an employee via voicemail in 2006.
A spokesperson later told the WSJ that the voicemail was «obviously hyperbolic and inappropriate» and that he «deeply regrets the exaggeration and tone in his voice». Still—he's gone now. After 32 years, some former developers are singing 'ding and dong' with a side of 'the witch is (metaphorically) dead'.
Andy Belford (a former senior manager in community development at Blizzard) took to Twitter a few days ago to break his silence on the man himself, particularly regarding Overwatch 2's disastrous Steam launch. The game's Valve debut came at a time of seething community sentiment, sinking its overall review rating to «Overwhelmingly Negative». A black mark that still hasn't been washed away.
«When we planned OW2’s steam launch, my team warned (months in advance) that we were going to be review bombed,» Belford writes. «We begged for more information, more details, and more resources to help us with the anticipated influx, all flatly denied.»
That review bombing came from a flood of
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