Some Activision Blizzard employees are unhappy about the order to return to in-office work. When the pandemic hit, several game companies had to adjust their approach and work schedules. This included the introduction of remote work options for several big brands that were working on projects. People like Masahiro Sakurai had to work remotely to be able to make progress on projects which were deemed important.Fast-forward to the current situation, the crisis has subsided a bit and restrictions are steadily easing up as society tries to adjust to the new normal. Some institutions have adjusted to the situation and have put into consideration the pandemic concerns. People like The Elder Scrolls Online's Rich Lambert discussed COVID's effects not only on the gaming industry, but also on the way the companies are run. However, this does not mean that the introduction of remote work has halted the processes of video game development.In a tweet by Overwatch 2 Associate Narrative Designer Joshi Zhang, they showed disappointment in Activision Blizzard's order for the employees to report back to the physical office. They also implied that "voluntary resignation" may be in the cards if the employees do not choose to return to work. They later closed the tweet by asking Blizzard to reconsider this request as they mention how positive the results were when the team worked remotely.
True enough, Activision Blizzard's stock rose during the height of the pandemic. That could imply that work did not completely suffer negatively during that period of time. Besides, the company was able to successfully release the famed sequel Overwatch 2 on October 4, 2022, amid the pandemic, proving that the employees could work remotely and accomplish their goals even with how communication is set up.
Most fans will also be quick to remember the backlash that Activision Blizzard got when it announced massive layoffs even with the record-breaking profits that year. Activision Blizzard may have made some questionable choices during recent years, which drew the ire of fans, supporters, and employees alike. Decisions such as these may lead to negative effects on company morale, so the return-to-office implication may not be positively received by most people. Hopefully, Activision Blizzard and its employees can come to an amenable agreement regarding this change so that operations will not be affected. As it stands, Activision employees are required to return to the office by April 10, while Blizzard developers are expected by July 10.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.