Following the departure of Blizzard President Mike Ybarra last week, Microsoft has today announced a successor in the form of the Call of Duty GM Johanna Faries, who will officially begin her role on February 5th.
In a message to Blizzard employees earlier today, Faries shared her enthusiasm for the role, while also acknowledging the "mixed emotions" caused by the 1,900 jobs that were cut across Microsoft's gaming divisions recently.
"Though my official first day with you all is February 5, I want to let you know immediately that it is an honor to join you next week in this new capacity. I do so humbly and in awe of all that Blizzard has stood for and delivered to the world for over thirty years. Today also brings some mixed emotions. The loss of talented teammates in recent days is hard to hold side-by-side with the immense excitement I feel about joining Blizzard – and building on the momentum you’ve created for Blizzard’s next chapter."
"Activision, Blizzard, and King are decidedly different companies with distinct games, cultures, and communities. It is important to note that Call of Duty’s way of waking up in the morning to deliver for players can often differ from the stunning games in Blizzard’s realm: each with different gameplay experiences, communities that surround them, and requisite models of success. I’ve discussed this with the Blizzard leadership team and I’m walking into this role with sensitivity to those dynamics, and deep respect for Blizzard, as we begin to explore taking our universes to even higher heights."
Faries has been working on the Call of Duty team since August of 2018, originally adopting the role of a "Commissioner" for CoD eSports before becoming the General Manager of the brand in April 2021. Prior to her arrival at Activision Blizzard she spent 11 years with the NFL, rising to the role of Vice President in Club Business Development.
In a memo to staff, Xbox's Matt Booty stated that Faries has impressed with her "thoughtful, considerate and focused approach to leadership", and that she "brings with her very deep commercial and entertainment experience".
What are your thoughts on this hire for Team Xbox? Let us know down in the comments section below.
[source news.blizzard.com]
Comments 37
Well, kinda strange choice, if you ask me... But anyway - good luck!
Is this lady any good?
From NFL to Blizzard? 😐🤨 Well, there is the significant dudebro crossover...
The results were exactly what I expected.
Yes, I am not satisfied. But let's hope it doesn't get worse.
I see some people are confused. I see some comments that are dismissive because she's a woman. I also see a comment from a user who has shared cringy sexist comments on PX before.
I'm not sure what the issue here is. Johanna is a rare hire who actually comes from within the industry, and was GM of one of the biggest brands in gaming. A VP in the NFL before that is equally impressive — and shows a record of success outside of gaming (remember, like every other business, some of gaming's most foward-thinking execs came from other industries, like Peter Moore from Reebock).
Sounds to me like a talented exec with a track record of success. Microsoft knows what they're doing.
I'm sure she'll do great.
Well she perhaps maybe perfect to turn the brand of Blizzard around and re-energise the studios and staff into a positive as her track record would suggest she can do....
@Kaloudz I will throw Vigilante 8 onto your list of otherwise wonderful remasters that would be so joyous to see. 😍
Maybe bring in someone from the japanese culture or someone who understands blizzards style and brand … smh
@Kaloudz Well, V8 was Activision, which is now A-B, so I think it still counts? 😂
I'm still heartbroken V8 Arcade isn't BWC. 😭
@Kaloudz Also, Sleeping Dogs is essentially True Crime 3. But I get it, I would like to see True Crime return, although that might have to be through Square.
After reading her resume, she is a billion times better than toxic Kotick. Sure, there will be the comments aimed at her sex, comments aimed at the fact she came from the NFL, and I am sure many others I can’t even predict at this point, but again this is a billion times better than Kotick.
The adjustments to staff size have been addressed, a new leader is in place, etc. time to get the ball rolling and see what MS can do with Blizzard and ABK in general.
@Kaloudz @EVIL-C I believe nobody owns the True Crime name IIRC Activision let the rights run out cause they weren't interested in making another game, that's how True Crime: Hong Kong became Sleeping Dogs. At the time Activision still owned the name but let Square have the unfinished game since according to Activision it didn't make the numbers GTA did so they weren't interested in finishing True Crimes Hong Kong. A few years later they let the name rights expire.
In theory they could get the rights back if no one else has them currently.
People need to read the article better before posting a comment, she's not Bobby Koticks replacement she's Mike Ybarra's. Bobby Kotick factors nothing into this.
Anyway, not quite sure how this will work out for Blizzard. Blizzard and CoD have two different mindsets. I guess as long as she doesn't interfere with Blizzard's creativity it won't be bad.
Personally I can't get enthusiastic about anyone who has been responsible for recent COD games being promoted anywhere.
@Righteousness
She isn't replacing Kotick. She's replacing Ybarra.
just get starcraft ghost made and all is forgiven.
we still dont have any cod on game pass and does xbox have any first party game lined up for the first half of 2024? anything?
@EvenStephen7 seems like somehow it’s more because she previously worked at the nfl. Because apparently you can’t ever hire someone who’s worked somewhere else? Either way, I’m unfamiliar with her but would like to see how things unfold. Ybarra went full on pro kotick once he became president so I don’t really miss the guy.
She seems exceptionally articulate, well experienced within the video game industry, and has a wonderful perspective overall. I like her already and I think she is going to do brilliantly!
Just what Blizzard needs: CoD sensibilities!
Who cares about her previous credentials being non-gaming?!
Reggie Fils-Aime had a history with Procter & Gamble, Pizza Hut, Guinness, Derby Cycle, Panda Express, and VH1 before going to Nintendo of America and he did a great job, if you ask me!
I hope in 10 years it will not be the same as 343 Industries.
Congrats, I hope the company thrives under her leadership.
She's certainly articulate, and I hope she does well.
Blizzard had prehaps the worst 'Frat Boy Culture' of the ABK teams, so I'm hopeful her appointment there will help end this and get Blizzard back to being the creative powerhouse they were.
@EvenStephen7 "I see some comments that are dismissive because she's a woman."
Where? I've read all the comments above you and can't find any. This kind of reaction makes equality more difficult. It makes people afraid of saying anything just because she's a woman.
@Tasuki She's not a gamer and she's not related to Blizzard. I think they chose her because of her friendly attitude, but in that case she would have been better as general manager of Activision, a bigger organisation that have been poorly managed in the last years and that people envision as a Call of Duty factory where all other studios of the group have been moved to assistance roles. She's also related to Activision. I wonder who will be chosen for managing Activision.
At this point you might aswell write blizzard off.
People thought Xbox buying Blizzard would mean no more activision meddling. They must feel pretty silly for believing that now.
I expect Blizzard to continue to decline, Microsoft has never really done anything to save failing game companies. They tend to just leave them to rot before scrapping them for parts.
@Banjo- No, I’m not going to hold your hand and walk through each comment here, then cross-reference them against the original story (where at least one of the above posters had comments removed for their views on women in the workforce).
But judging by how many people hearted my comment, many people here saw the same thing I did and agree. So many it’s a you problem?
Instead of attempts to lecture through failed attempts at false equivalence and slippery slope fallacy (btw it’s called a “fallacy” for a reason), maybe time would be better spent on reflecting on how it’s obvious you’re playing the willfull ignorance card and how that’s never a good look.
No one’s afraid of saying anything because she’s a woman. Clearly.
@EvenStephen7 "Instead of attempts to lecture through failed attempts at false equivalence and slippery slope fallacy (btw it’s called a “fallacy” for a reason), maybe time would be better spent on reflecting on how it’s obvious you’re playing the willfull ignorance card and how that’s never a good look."
The only one lecturing others, myself included, is you. How easy would have been to explain that the poster you lectured erased the comment (if that's true), instead of overreacting and attacking, as usual.
@Banjo- Have a great day!
I'm looking forward to seeing her more. Her and Sarah Bond. Lol.
@Kaloudz It depends on who owns the name and IP now. Even if Activision made the True Crime series originally it depends on who owns the I.P. now. That's the problem the Fallout creators had with Bethesda back in the day and why Fallout 1 and 2 where pulled from Steam and other similar services a few years ago.
And if no one owns it it's up to Activision if they want to pursue it. And there was a sequel planned to Sleeping Dogs but that studio shut down so it was canceled and Square is to busy with Final Fantasy games to worry about Sleeping Dogs.
People seem to have forgotten all the fallout surrounding Blizzard prior to the merger. This seems like a solid choice on all fronts.
Well we will see. I don't play Blizzard games, I don't like many directions Microsoft took with some of their own IPs with management changes/overseeing of certain games so like I really have much hope as it is.
I mean Square has remasters like Front Mission 1st remake go to Microids and expect highly of return so like I think Square makes good decisions.
Let alone other IPs to other studios and some big that do well, some big that do bad, some remasters of old IPs that don't put enough effort in but still expect a lot.
@Kaloudz You could always get whatever console they are on and a copy of the game.
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