Blizzard Entertainment's survival game has been canceled due to engine issues during its development. Microsoft's recent layoffs have also impacted the company. Learn more about the reasons behind the cancellation and the impact of the layoffs.
Blizzard Cancels Survival Game
Blizzard Entertainment's highly anticipated survival game, which was informally announced in 2022, has unfortunately been canceled. This shocking development comes after six years of development and is reportedly due to engine issues. Fans and industry insiders alike are left wondering what went wrong and what this means for the future of Blizzard.
The cancellation of the survival game is a significant blow to Blizzard, as it had the potential to be a major release for the company. The decision to cancel the game was not taken lightly, and the specific reasons behind it have not been disclosed. However, reports suggest that the game's engine posed significant challenges throughout its development.
Engine Issues and Development Struggles
The development of the survival game was plagued by engine issues, according to a recent Bloomberg report. Initially, the game was prototyped using Epic Games' Unreal Engine, but Blizzard executives made the decision to switch to Synapse, an in-house engine originally developed for mobile games. This change in engines reportedly caused significant problems and delays.
When Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, there was hope that the team behind the game would be able to switch back to Unreal Engine. However, this did not happen, and the development team had to continue working with the problematic Synapse engine. Despite the challenges, the game did make progress, and early versions were well-received by players.
However, the ambitious goal of releasing the game in 2026 proved to be too optimistic. Blizzard had plans to expand the development team to meet the target release year, but ultimately, the decision was made to cancel the game. The engine issues and development struggles were significant factors in this difficult choice.
Impact of Microsoft's Layoffs
In addition to the engine issues, Microsoft's recent announcement of layoffs has had a significant impact on Blizzard. The layoffs, which affected 1,900 employees across various divisions, including Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and ZeniMax, have created an uncertain environment for the company.
Blizzard's president, Mike Ybarra, also announced his departure from the company, further adding to the turmoil. The survival game, which had been in development for six years, was unfortunately caught in the crossfire of these layoffs and the resulting restructuring.
The cancellation of the survival game and the layoffs have left many fans and employees disappointed and concerned about the future of Blizzard. It remains to be seen how the company will navigate these challenges and what their next steps will be.