Microsoft officially acquired Activision Blizzard in October, closing a massive $68.7 billion deal. With the company now firmly integrated into Microsoft’s corporate structure, some might wonder how the software giant is influencing Blizzard. However, at least for now, it seems that Microsoft isn’t that interested in meddling with the developer’s affairs.
Microsoft lets “Blizzard be Blizzard”
“There’s no one asking us to do anything,” World of Warcraft’s Executive Producer Holly Longdale told VGC. “World of Warcraft is doing very well and they’re very proud of what it’s been able to accomplish, so it’s almost like just let it be, and let it keep being awesome. They’ve been tremendously supportive, and it’s like, ‘let Blizzard be Blizzard.’”
That’s not to say Blizzard is isolated from the rest of Microsoft, as Longdale explained earlier in the interview. “If anything, it’s just been helpful,” Longdale said. “We got time with Helen Chang from Mojang, and we were sharing information, so it’s almost as if we have access to what worked for them. We got to speak to the Elder Scrolls Online team and share what we’re up to and what’s been working; it’s almost like we get a benefit.”
The latter detail is quite interesting. Released in 2014, ESO and WoW are traditionally thought of as competitors. However, while that’s true in the sense of both being MMORPGs, they are still very different games. Still, it’s interesting to learn that Blizzard and Zenimax Online communicate closely.
Either way, fans who are happy with how Blizzard operates should be pleased to hear that Microsoft is being so hands-off. Then again, the studio’s more disgruntled fans might have wished that its new owner was a bit more proactive.
