In a revealing turn of events, Chris Sayers, a former VFX artist for Overwatch 2, has taken to Twitter to accuse Blizzard Entertainment of serious workplace issues, including mistreatment and dishonesty regarding a promotion. Sayers' allegations shed light on the ongoing concerns about Blizzard's workplace culture and practices, which have been under scrutiny in recent years.
so, enough time has passed now for me to talk about why i decided to leave Blizzard. a mixed year with great teammates, but a management that mistreated, lied to me, gaslit me, gave me a fake promotion, and HR that refused to help.
— Chris Sayers (He/Him) (@NotSoLittleC) February 8, 2024
buckle up friendos. 💪
Sayers praised their colleagues but differentiated their positive experiences with them from the negative ones with Blizzard's management. The artist detailed how they were promised a promotion to Lead VFX Artist, which included a pay raise and new responsibilities. However, according to Sayers, Blizzard delayed the promotion and pay increase while assuring them that everything was proceeding as planned. This situation led to Sayers performing the workload of multiple positions without the promised compensation.
The situation escalated when Sayers sought clarification and was met with HR's denial of any knowledge regarding the promised promotion. This response, coupled with a non-compete clause that was enforced upon their departure, highlights the alleged deceptive practices within Blizzard's management.
Sayers' decision to leave Blizzard was driven by the need to protect their mental health, underscoring the toxic work environment they experienced. Despite raising a formal complaint, an investigation reportedly found no wrongdoing on HR's part. Blizzard has yet to respond to these allegations.
This incident adds to the growing list of concerns regarding Blizzard's treatment of its employees and its corporate culture. The gaming community and industry professionals are closely watching how Blizzard addresses these serious accusations.
Chris Sayers has since moved on to become a Lead VFX Artist at Anchor Point Studios, continuing their career with a wealth of experience from previous roles, including at Mediatonic.
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