Luis Barriga, Diablo 4 Director, Has Been Let Go From Activision Blizzard
Several more key names have been reported to have been removed from Activision Blizzard. One of the names is that of Luis Barriga’s—the Game Director for the much-awaited Diablo 4.
It has been in multiple reports that Activision Blizzard is currently facing a lawsuit from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing regarding its alleged “frat boy” culture. There has been no clear evidence if the then Diablo 4 dev was let go as a result of the alleged gender discrimination within the company. With that said, the incident may be purely coincidental.
“We can confirm Luis Barriga, Jesse McCree, and Jonathan LeCraft are no longer with the company,” a rep from Activision Blizzard confirmed in an email. “We have a deep, talented roster of developers already in place and new leaders have been assigned where appropriate.”
It remains unknown precisely how this incident affects Diablo 4 development and its release, but Activision has verified that any progress of the games for release will not be affected. “We are confident in our ability to continue progress, deliver amazing experiences to our players, and move forward to ensure a safe, productive work environment for all,” the rep added.
In addition to Diablo 4, Barriga was also the Lead Game Designer for World of Warcraft and was also hugely involved in the design and development of Cataclysm, Wrath of the Lich King, and The Burning Crusade.
Prior to Barriga being let go from the company, a 30-minute peek at Diablo 4 gameplay has left many of its fans dissatisfied, criticizing it for looking remarkably similar to the infamous Diablo 3. The third installment in the Diablo franchise was disappointing for many, especially following the notable success of its predecessor, Diablo 2. Despite promises of implementing some huge changes, the Diablo 4 gameplay preview appeared to not be the miracle that the Diablo community was hoping for.
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