The dust is finally starting to settle from Microsoft’s huge acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but even Blizzard president Mike Ybarra still isn’t exactly sure how things will change for the company. “I literally haven’t sat down with [Microsoft Gaming CEO] Phil [Spencer] and said, ‘So what does all this mean?’” Ybarra tells The Verge in an interview.
Ybarra doesn’t seem worried, though. As part of his opening remarks at Friday’s BlizzCon 2023 keynote, Ybarra said that the show was the start of a “new era” for the company.
“I think the way [Spencer] approaches building teams and focusing on culture and enabling creative freedom is going to give Blizzard a lot more of that sense of being an independent studio than ever before,” Ybarra says. “That’s what I really mean when I talk about a new era of possibilities, of empowerment, of serving players even better than we ever have.” (It probably also helps that Ybarra worked for Spencer for eight years before joining Blizzard.)
Right before the full reveal of Warframe 1999 at TennoCon, we chatted with Ben Starr about the responsibility of stepping into such a huge franchise.
Choo-choo! Railroads Online is rolling down the track, heading for full release on PC, Xbox and PlayStation real soon.
SNK has announced crossover fighting game SNK vs. Capcom: SVC CHAOS for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC. It is available now for PC via Steam, and will launch for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via GOG on July 22.
Xbox NOT live for this game as it's not on xbox.
SNK doesn't have the MT framework isn't compatible excuse that capcom had with MvC Collection so i guess developers just don't want to release old school compilations on Xbox because they don't sell.
It never was about MT framework. This is easy to figure out because the Xbox One titles using it didn't magically become unplayable.
I remember I had Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 for GameCube imported. I had my GC modded to play imports. Ah, good times.
Well this kinda guarantees the Capcom vs SNK collection is coming out. Pretty sure if Capcom allowed this to come out it also goes the other way.
I wish Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars would make a return while Capcom is at it.
*Prior to joining Blizzard, Mike spent 22 years at Microsoft.
The same guy that In February said the following, "Ybarra allegedly made a bizarre comparison to his and other executives' pay packages to those of rank-and-file employees, appeared to downplay the value of QA and customer service roles at the studio, and defended the company's decision to slash annual profit-sharing bonuses.
*According to several sources, Ybarra stated something to the effect of: "If you think that executives are making a lot of money and you aren't, you're living in a myth."
Sounds like a self-righteous prick living in looney toon land.
Why do I feel it's cap there man?
Independent? Under Xbox?
Riiiiiight
huh?
even from a outside perspective, being owned by someone instead of being your own boss, aint more independent.
the fk is he on about lol.