**Blizzard to Lay Off Nearly Entire Cork Office: 136 Employees Affected**
According to a report in the Irish Examiner, Blizzard Entertainment is planning to cut 136 jobs at its Cork office in Ireland. This represents around two-thirds of the company’s workforce there.
The Tánaiste (deputy head of government), Michéal Martin, confirmed the number of affected employees while speaking in the Dáil. Blizzard reportedly employs approximately 200 people at its Cork office.
**Blizzard Refuses to Engage with Trade Union Representing Affected Workers**
Speaking in the Dáil, People Before Profit TD Mick Barry expressed concern that Blizzard “refuses to engage with the trade union chosen by these workers to represent them.”
Blizzard Entertainment has not issued an official response at this time.
**Layoffs in the Gaming Industry: A Trend That Shows No Signs of Slowing Down**
The news comes on the heels of Microsoft’s recent cutbacks, which affected thousands of employees following its acquisition of Activision. In February, Microsoft announced it would be cutting 10,000 jobs across the company.
Embracer Group has also faced backlash from fans for layoffs at various studios. The company, which recently released a financial report, states its goal is “always maximize shareholder value.”
Despite these trends, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has challenged Microsoft for layoffs after its acquisition of Activision. Microsoft stated last week that “Activision was already planning on eliminating a significant number of jobs while still operating as an independent company.”
**Former Overwatch 2 VFX Artist Speaks Out Against Blizzard**
Last week, a former Overwatch 2 VFX artist spoke up against Blizzard regarding a potential promotion.
During its major business update yesterday, Xbox announced that the Xbox Game Pass will eventually add all of Activision and Blizzard’s games to its subscription service.
**Sony’s Plans for Releasing a PlayStation 5 Slim?**
For more of the latest Insider Gaming news, you can read about Sony’s potential plans for releasing a PS5 Slim sometime this year.
