Blizzard has faced significant criticism in recent years. In 2021,
reports surfaced about the company’s toxic workplace culture following a lawsuit filed by California’s Department of Fair Employment citing “unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.”

In response, Blizzard pledged to address these issues, with former President Mike Ybarra outlining internal guidelines and new hires aimed at fostering a better work environment.

However, recent revelations from former Overwatch 2 artist Chris Sayers suggest little progress has been made. Sayers shared his distressing experience on social media, detailing alleged mistreatment by Blizzard management, including deception, manipulation, and a “fake promotion.”

According to Sayers, the trouble began when he was offered a promotion but faced delays and confusion regarding its terms. Despite assurances from management, Sayers found himself overwhelmed with responsibilities, including terminating a team member and handling increased workload without the promised pay raise or title change.

Repeated attempts to address these issues with HR were met with dismissive responses, culminating in Sayers’ resignation.

Shockingly, Blizzard enforced a non-compete clause, preventing Sayers from seeking employment elsewhere for three months without compensation.

Sayers’ account raises serious concerns, particularly as it occurred despite Blizzard’s supposed efforts to improve workplace culture. It highlights a failure in the systems designed to prevent such incidents and underscores the need for genuine change within the company.

Despite these challenges, Sayers acknowledges the positive aspects of his work with the Overwatch 2 team and expresses gratitude for the support he received from his mentors and colleagues.

Sayers has since joined Anchor Point Studios as lead VFX Artist, where he continues to contribute his talents to new projects.