Update at the bottom of the article

So, THIS came full circle, didn't it? In the midst of reporting a "record-setting" 2018 fiscal year, which means they made bucket-loads of cash, Activision Blizzard fired 8% of their total staff, around 800 people. In 2018, AB reported having 9,600 employees, so 8% is nearly 800 people who were screwed over. They made huge bank, and fired hundreds of people? Why? CEO Bobby Kotick said they were all "non-development roles" and COO Collister “Coddy” Johnson  said “We saw weaker than anticipated retail demand.” This is also on the eve of CFO Dennis Durkin getting $15 mil as a "sweetener". 

So what the hell happened? No one but the AB knows. Cash was flowing in, enough to give some schmuck $15 mil, but 800 people were fired. Other companies like Square Enix have posted on twitter, offering words of encouragement and links to their jobs sites, telling these 800 people that they would be welcome. This also throws heaps of shade on AB. Check out the twitter hashtags #BlizzardLayoffs and #boycottActivisionBlizzard for more. There's more hashtags, one linked to Bobby Kotick, but these are good ones to start with.

Obviously this was an excellent time for Bungie to pack it up with AB and take control of their literal and titular Destiny. AB is saying that it was a smart play for them as Destiny wasn't making as much bank either, a sentiment that Bungie vehemently disagreed with. Yeah Bungie wanted out, but Destiny is making cash for them.

Let's talk about this disagreement in cash. As stated, AB posted record sales for the 2018 fiscal year. They made $7.26B in physical and digital sales, compared to $7.16B in 2017. However, CEO and douchebag Bobby Kotick explained that the numbers failed to meet expectations. You made more money than ever, but wanted even more?! Blizzard president J. Allen Brack described the layoffs as a “top-five career-difficult moment for me personally.” Go cry in a pile of money, asshole. The same exact moment that Kotick was telling shareholders that they hit record numbers, 800 employees lost their jobs. 

So where does this leave us? Actilizard (a name coined by user Hectotane) is restructuring to focus on other franchises, while possibly firing more people. The PR they got from this certainly won't help their record-setting but "underwhelming" earnings. Gamers can unite against unfair practices in their industry like no other. Actilizard will be feeling the heat from this for a while. 

Regarding the layoffs, as he lamented the screwing over of 800 employees, Blizzard president J. Allen Brack sent out a memo:

"This was an extremely difficult decision, and we want to acknowledge the effort of everyone who has contributed to Blizzard. To assist with the transition, we are offering each impacted employee a severance package that includes additional pay, benefits continuation, and career and recruiting support to help them find their next opportunity."

At the same time, Activision is increasing its shareholder dividend by nearly 9 percent, to 37 cents a share. This is the ninth consecutive year the company has increased its dividend. That's absolutely no comfort to the 800 people who lost their jobs, who had to deal with nothing short of anxiety and anger at the corporate greed that infested Blizzard from the cancer that is Activision, and those who are left behind to feel a sort of survivor's guilt. 800 lives forever changed because Activision wants to make more money without putting in the honest work that was part of Blizzard's culture since it was founded.

The response from fans has been rapid. Many are saying that they'll never sub to WoW again, even posting screenshots of them canceling their subs. I doubt BlizzCon will be as packed as it has been in the past. I hope both Activision and Blizzard get exactly what they deserve. 

Update: The big DUH moment of this whole event. Captain Hindsight over here thinking that firing 800 employees might have negative consequences.