# Blizzard Entertainment

> American video game publisher and developer owned by Microsoft

**Wikidata**: [Q178824](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q178824)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_Entertainment)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blizzard-entertainment

## Summary  
Blizzard Entertainment is an American video‑game developer and publisher founded on 8 February 1991 and headquartered in Irvine, California. It creates and publishes major franchises such as *World of Warcraft*, *StarCraft* and *Overwatch* and is currently owned by Microsoft (through its parent company Activision Blizzard).

## Key Facts  
- **Founded:** 8 February 1991 (inception).  
- **Headquarters:** Irvine, California, United States (coordinates 33.658432 ‑ 117.767664).  
- **Industry:** Video‑game industry; produces software and video‑games.  
- **Employees:** ≈ 13 000 (point‑in‑time 2022‑12‑31).  
- **Ownership:** Owned by Microsoft via its parent Activision Blizzard (owned_by Activision Blizzard).  
- **Founder / Co‑founder:** Michael Morhaime (co‑founder).  
- **Key executives (2021‑2024):** Mike Ybarra (director/manager), Jen Oneal, J. Allen Brack.  
- **Subsidiaries & studios:** Blizzard Albany, High Moon Studios, former divisions Blizzard North and Blizzard Albany.  
- **Notable releases:** *World of Warcraft: Dragonflight* (2022), *StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm* (expansion), *World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic* (2022), multiple *Overwatch* editions.  
- **Major awards & recognitions:** Nominated for The Game Awards – Developer of the Year (2014); received the BigBrotherAwards (2012).  

## FAQs  
### Q: What kinds of games does Blizzard Entertainment make?  
A: Blizzard develops and publishes large‑scale multiplayer titles, most famously the *Warcraft* (including *World of Warcraft*), *StarCraft* and *Overwatch* series, along with expansion packs such as *Dragonflight* and *Heart of the Swarm*.  

### Q: Who founded Blizzard Entertainment?  
A: The company was co‑founded by Michael Morhaime on 8 February 1991; he remains a prominent figure in its history.  

### Q: Is Blizzard Entertainment owned by Microsoft?  
A: Yes. Blizzard is owned by Microsoft through its parent organization Activision Blizzard, which acquired the studio after the 2022 acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft.  

### Q: How many people work at Blizzard?  
A: As of the end of 2022, Blizzard reported roughly 13 000 employees worldwide.  

### Q: Has Blizzard ever faced major controversies?  
A: Blizzard experienced a high‑profile data breach in 2012 that exposed millions of Battle.net user credentials.  

## Why It Matters  
Blizzard Entertainment has shaped the modern multiplayer and esports landscapes through its flagship franchises. *World of Warcraft* pioneered the subscription‑based MMORPG model, attracting millions of players and generating a lasting cultural footprint. *StarCraft* set the standard for competitive real‑time strategy gaming, especially in South Korea, where it became a national sport. *Overwatch* introduced a hero‑shooter format that blended fast‑paced action with diverse character design, influencing subsequent titles and spawning a vibrant esports scene. Blizzard’s emphasis on polished, high‑quality releases has driven industry expectations for content updates, live‑service support, and community engagement. Its integration into Microsoft’s ecosystem further amplifies its reach, positioning Blizzard as a cornerstone of contemporary gaming, entertainment, and digital culture.  

## Notable For  
- **Pioneering MMORPGs:** *World of Warcraft* remains one of the longest‑running and most influential online games.  
- **Esports leadership:** *StarCraft* and *Overwatch* have cultivated global competitive leagues and professional player ecosystems.  
- **High‑profile expansions:** Release of *World of Warcraft: Dragonflight* (2022) and *StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm* demonstrate Blizzard’s ongoing content pipeline.  
- **Industry recognition:** Nominated for The Game Awards – Developer of the Year (2014) and recipient of the BigBrotherAwards (2012).  
- **Security incident:** The 2012 Blizzard data breach highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in online gaming platforms.  

## Body  

### History & Formation  
- Blizzard began as Silicon & Synapse in 1991, rebranding to Blizzard Entertainment after early successes.  
- Co‑founder Michael Morhaime led the company through its early growth, overseeing the launch of *Warcraft: Orcs & Humans* (1994) and *Diablo* (1996).  

### Corporate Structure  
- **Parent organization:** Activision Blizzard (owned by Microsoft).  
- **Key subsidiaries:** Blizzard Albany (formerly Vicarious Visions), High Moon Studios.  
- **Former divisions:** Blizzard North (Bay Area, 1993‑2005) and Blizzard Albany (1994‑present).  

### Product Portfolio  
- **Core franchises:** *Warcraft* (including *World of Warcraft*), *StarCraft*, *Diablo*, *Overwatch*.  
- **Recent releases:** *World of Warcraft: Dragonflight* (2022), *World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Classic* (2022).  
- **Expansion packs:** *StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm*, *Overwatch* special editions (Game of the Year, Origins, Legendary, Collector’s).  

### Personnel & Leadership  
- **Founders:** Michael Morhaime (co‑founder, entrepreneur, computer scientist).  
- **Directors (2021‑2024):** Mike Ybarra (2021‑2024), Jen Oneal (2021‑2021), J. Allen Brack (until 2021).  
- **Affiliated talent:** Chris Metzen (designer, voice actor), Sam Lantinga (programmer).  

### Financial & Operational Metrics  
- **Employee count:** ≈ 13 000 (2022).  
- **Estimated market value:** ≈ US $60.44 billion (point‑in‑time 2023‑02‑16).  
- **Revenue streams:** Game sales, subscriptions (e.g., *World of Warcraft*), in‑game microtransactions, esports licensing.  

### Controversies & Challenges  
- **2012 data breach:** Compromised millions of Battle.net accounts, prompting industry‑wide security reforms.  
- **Legal & regulatory scrutiny:** Ongoing investigations into workplace culture and antitrust concerns (not detailed in source).  

### Future Outlook  
- Integration with Microsoft’s cloud and gaming platforms (Xbox Game Pass, Azure) is expected to expand distribution and cross‑play capabilities.  
- Continued development of new expansions and next‑generation titles aims to retain Blizzard’s position as a leading creator of live‑service games.  

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## References

1. LastDodo
2. [Encyclopædia Britannica Online](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Activision-Blizzard-Inc)
3. [Source](https://bigbrotherawards.de/2012)
4. OCLC, Inc.
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. MusicBrainz
7. [Android Apps by Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=8636572569301896616&hl=en_US)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Source](http://www.darkreading.com/attacks-and-breaches/blizzard-battlenet-security-breached-passwords-accessed/d/d-id/1105740)
10. [Source](https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizzard/23706475/new-leadership-at-blizzard)
11. [Source](https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/blizzard/23738005/a-message-from-jen-oneal)
12. National Software Reference Library
13. [Source](https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/40230/DICE_2012_Blizzards_Pearce_on_World_Of_Warcrafts_launch_hangover.php)
14. [annual report](https://investor.activision.com/static-files/01d1f04d-1c00-4a17-8743-4e6a20e17335)
15. [Source](https://www.polygon.com/2014/11/21/7259309/game-awards-2014-nominees)
16. BBC Things
17. Discogs
18. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
19. Quora
20. [Source](https://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/asnames/asn.txt)
21. Golden
22. VideoGameGeek
23. [WiiG | Spieledatenbank](http://wiig.de/developer/415/Blizzard-Entertainment/)
24. [WiiG | Spieledatenbank](http://wiig.de/publisher/443/Blizzard-Entertainment/)
25. Video Games Chronicle