Sizeable Times

Blizzard’s “sexual harassment” scandal was an exaggerated justification for a coup against the lead creatives and executives who had maintained Blizzard’s values and standards. Prior to those events, it was the most desirable employer in the games industry and every single product it released was an exemplar of quality. But Bobby Kotick wanted an excuse to exercise more control over those franchises and a cadre of disaffected female workers felt the culture, where men drank together in the office after hours while playing games or working, was a “boys’ club.” A few isolated sexual harassment allegations during the height of MeToo was enough justification to tear it all down. Men with decades of experience at Blizzard who were responsible for classic and beloved games were fired and disgraced for being on email chains where employees joked about hooking up with fans at Blizzcon events. Their names were scrubbed from the games they made. Their friends, like Jeff Kaplan, who dodged allegations were either pushed out by Kotick’s new management or saw the writing on the wall and found their exits. The Blizzard that people loved no longer exists.