Microsoft has ‘let Blizzard be Blizzard’ following its acquisition, studio says

Microsoft has “let Blizzard be Blizzard” following its acquisition of the studio last year.

That’s according to Holly Longdale, executive producer and vice president of World of Warcraft, who discussed what life at Microsoft has been like for the developer during a recent interview with VGC.

“If anything, it’s just been helpful,” Longdale said. “We got time with Helen Chang from Mojang, and we were sharing information, so it’s almost as if we have access to what worked for them. We got to speak to the Elder Scrolls Online team and share what we’re up to and what’s been working, it’s almost like we get a benefit.

“There’s no one asking us to do anything,” she continued. “World of Warcraft is doing very well and they’re very proud of what it’s been able to accomplish, so it’s almost like just let it be, and let it keep being awesome. They’ve been tremendously supportive and it’s like ‘let Blizzard be Blizzard’.”

Microsoft officially closed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October.

In completing the game industry’s (and Microsoft’s) biggest-ever deal, the Xbox maker took ownership of major console and PC franchises including Call of Duty, Warcraft and Diablo.

Blizzard has today revealed the World of Warcraft: The War Within Collector’s Edition.

VGC recently had a chance to play The War Within and chat to the studio about the upcoming expansion.