One week ago the State of California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing announced it was suing Activision Blizzard for gender discrimination following a two-year investigation. Despite Activision Blizzard's initial claim of innocence regarding all accusations, further details regarding sexual harassment and abuse at the company appear to have led to action. It's now being reported that several key names at Blizzard are no longer with the company, including Diablo 4's game director.
Three specific names were mentioned in a report from Kotaku as having been "let go" from Blizzard. No official reasons were provided for the three game developers' departures. The most prominent name was Luis Barriga, who until now has been the game director for Diablo 4. Previously, Barriga worked as a lead game designer on World of Warcraft, involved in the development of The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and Cataclysm. His name has not been otherwise associated with the lawsuit or allegations within Blizzard.
The second name on the list is more prominently associated with recent revelations regarding gender discrimination at Blizzard. Lead designer Jesse McCree is said to have been led go by Blizzard after 15 years with the company. McCree's name showed up associated with the controversial "Cosby Suite" leaks. McCree is notably the employee that Overwatch's cowboy gunslinger character is named after. Members of the Overwatch community have already asked for McCree's name to be changed.
Lastly, World of Warcraft designer Jonathan LeCraft has also been let go from Blizzard, according to the report. LeCraft was also tied to the controversial "Cosby Suite" leaks, having appeared in a photograph taken with a group of male developers and the framed poster of Bill Cosby associated with the group. No specific allegations against LeCraft have been made, outside of his association with the Cosby Suite.
A fourth developer is also mentioned in the report, but has been put on leave rather than let go. That name is Cory Stockton, a World of Warcraft lead game designer. Stockton was also a part of the same Cosby Suite photograph that Jonathan LeCraft was. No other allegations against Stockton are known.
There's no clear evidence that these three men were let go from Blizzard as a result of any alleged association with recent reports of gender discrimination at the company. That some of their names have been mentioned in related reports could be coincidental. Blizzard is unlikely to comment on specific employee-related topics.
Source: Kotaku