Activision Blizzard Q3 2021 Investor Call, Jen Oneal Leaving Blizzard

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Activision Blizzard Q3 2021 Investor Call
The Activision Blizzard earnings call was this afternoon. We've highlighted some of the written results below.

• Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV will be launched later than originally planned, as more development time is needed to reach their full potential.
• Activision had 119 million MAUs in the third quarter, down from 127 million MAUs in the second quarter, down from 150 million MAUs in the first quarter, down from 128 million MAUs in Q4 2020.
• Blizzard had 26 million MAUs in the third quarter, the same as last quarter.
• Blizzard revenue of $493M grew 20% YoY, driven by Diablo II: Resurrected.
• Diablo II: Resurrected first week sales were the highest recorded for a remaster from the company.
• Diablo Immortal is in public testing, and remains on track for release in the first half of next year
• World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.
• Hearthstone net bookings were stable year-over-year in the third quarter

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Jen Oneal Leaving Blizzard
Jen Oneal was appointed co-leader of Blizzard in August when J. Allen Brack stepped down.

To the Blizzard community,

Over the last few months, many of us have been taking the time to ask ourselves how we can effect the most positive change in our workplace, in our games, and in our communities.

On a macro level, Mike Ybarra and I, along with the rest of Blizzard, have been navigating the important changes we must undertake in order to be known as the creative powerhouse that brought hundreds of millions of players into Azeroth, Sanctuary, and more, all while ensuring our workplace and game communities are truly inclusive, safe, and inviting to all.

On a micro level, as I’ve listened to the stories from people all over Blizzard and been inspired by their courage and conviction, I’ve been thinking about the potential of what I can do as an individual to create the most meaningful change. For the last 20 years of my career, I have loved developing games--they are my lifeblood. I also have been fortunate to find my passion and voice in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space along the way.

Those of you who have played our games will know that sometimes our adventures can keep you on the quest you set out on, but sometimes, a new quest beckons us.

I want you to hear from me personally that I have made the decision to step away from co-leading Blizzard Entertainment and will transition to a new position before departing ABK at the end of the year. Effective immediately, Mike Ybarra will lead Blizzard. I am doing this not because I am without hope for Blizzard, quite the opposite--I’m inspired by the passion of everyone here, working towards meaningful, lasting change with their whole hearts. This energy has inspired me to step out and explore how I can do more to have games and diversity intersect, and hopefully make a broader industry impact that will benefit Blizzard (and other studios) as well. While I am not totally sure what form that will take, I am excited to embark on a new journey to find out.

ABK’s leadership is graciously offering their support for my decision and has worked with me on a plan to invest in the future of other women in the gaming industry, by agreeing to make a US $1 million grant to Women in Games International--a fantastic non-profit organization, where I am a board member, that cultivates and advances equality and diversity in the global games industry. This money will be used to fund skill-building and mentorship programs.

With my remaining time here, I will be transferring my responsibilities to Mike, and transitioning into a new role working closely with Activision Blizzard and WIGI to determine the first steps around how the grant will be utilized, and its structure. The partnership is full of potential and is another step in a long-term commitment to create better support, resources, and guidance to women in the gaming industry.

Mike has been unbelievably supportive throughout my decision-making process around this move, and I have every confidence in him leading Blizzard. Mike and I have been working together to develop many of the actions we’ll be taking to continue making Blizzard a safer, stronger, and more inclusive workplace, and I know he plans on sharing some of those actions with you soon.

I wanted to tell the Blizzard community this personally because I want you to know I believe so strongly in Mike and the rest of Blizzard’s leadership both in terms of Blizzard’s culture and Blizzard’s games. Blizzard’s best days are ahead. I truly believe that. I also am hoping this letter helps you to think about what you can do to make everyone around you--no matter their gender, race, or identity--feel welcome, comfortable, and free to be themselves.

Thank you for the support you have shown our teams over the last few months. I know that your positive messages have helped our people tremendously during this time.

And to everyone at Blizzard, thank you--for your honesty, your belief in a better future, and your incredible work ethic, creativity, and passion. You inspired me to find my own path in championing the cause for equality and my hope is that you inspire our players to do the same.

Thank you again,

Jen Oneal

[crakerjack]

Hue hue, blizzard is kill.

[n7sh]

We can all trash Blizzard however much we want, and even if there's been a steady decline, they still have more players in their games than a lot of other companies big or small.

[Baiganx]

No major changes, no real losses. Blizzard is confident of it's direction, so it will be business as usual (AKA more Shadowlands).

[potis]

World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.

Imagine everyone screaming dear murder, and its still making more money than similar periods of "successful expansions".

Yes yes, its the 1mil people remaining each buying 5 tokens per day, right?

As i have said before, the game has problems, but its literally a tiny % screaming dear murder on every possible platform, while the true casuals dont care, and the better players dont care also, they just do their thing.

[ClassicPeon]

This is just people who log into battle net right. You could play any game you already own from blizzard and it would count right?

I'm pretty sure if we where looking at wow subs it would have tanked completely.

[Morgaith]

This is so really dire numbers for wow.

[deenman]

World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.

Imagine everyone screaming dear murder, and its still making more money than similar periods of "successful expansions".

Yes yes, its the 1mil people remaining each buying 5 tokens per day, right?

As i have said before, the game has problems, but its literally a tiny % screaming dear murder on every possible platform, while the true casuals dont care, and the better players dont care also, they just do their thing.

this is very true,just some personal anecdote,im pretty much the only one out of my guild and fairly large core group of friends that have stoped playing,the drop offs seem to be very small

[Aggressive]

World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.

Imagine everyone screaming dear murder, and its still making more money than similar periods of "successful expansions".

Yes yes, its the 1mil people remaining each buying 5 tokens per day, right?

As i have said before, the game has problems, but its literally a tiny % screaming dear murder on every possible platform, while the true casuals dont care, and the better players dont care also, they just do their thing.

God Bless those "Whales". They are really doing their job.

[MoanaLisa]

This is so really dire numbers for wow.

That's not really what it says.

[Dakhath]

This is just people who log into battle net right. You could play any game you already own from blizzard and it would count right?

I'm pretty sure if we where looking at wow subs it would have tanked completely.

According this this, WoW is tracking well and regardless of what people may want or hope, they can't lie to stockholders.

[Lorgar Aurelian]

Blizzard had 26 million MAUs in the third quarter, the same as last quarter.
World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.

well so much for the mass wow exodus.

[deenman]

This is just people who log into battle net right. You could play any game you already own from blizzard and it would count right?

I'm pretty sure if we where looking at wow subs it would have tanked completely.

cant tell if your being sarcastic lol

''World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.''

[Kralljin]

This is just people who log into battle net right. You could play any game you already own from blizzard and it would count right?

No idea how many hours you need to have played in order to count as a MAU, it's also important of note that you only count for 1/3 MAU if you only log in during a single month.

Say you logged in HS during August and not any other month during Q3, it counts as 1/3 MAU.

It needs to be stressed, Blizzard really tried to get some more MAU by offering the WoW sub+HS pack bunble.

''World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.''

And what does "engagement" mean?

Especially as TBCC exists, that also certainly muddles the waters.

[Daish]

That's not really what it says.

they are counting people who log into the battle.net app you know the thing that auto starts when your PC turns on

[rogoth]

According this this, WoW is tracking well and regardless of what people may want or hope, they can't lie to stockholders.

except that's exactly what bobby boy has been doing for years now, so while legally there's a set of rules that need to be followed, if you spin something to your favour enough you can use it as a shield against any potential ramifications by going against those rules, all i take away from this is that they have framed everything in such a way as to soften the blow of the entire debacle that's been going on now for the past few months, and have omitted some data that shows that negative side of the business while using other things to keep focus away from that.

[MiiiMiii]

They really just said they will delay OW2 and D4 even more in this earnings call... 2023 release???

They keep bragging about more and more developers but we see less and less content.

[MoanaLisa]

No idea how many hours you need to have played in order to count as a MAU, it's also important of note that you only count for 1/3 MAU if you only log in during a single month.

Say you logged in HS during August and not any other month during Q3, it counts as 1/3 MAU.

It needs to be stressed, Blizzard really tried to get some more MAU by offering the WoW sub+HS pack bunble.

And what does "engagement" mean?

Especially as TBCC exists, that also certainly muddles the waters.

No minimum hours. If you log in once during a month that counts as one. If you log in 200 times over a month that counts as one.

Unless they've changed it this is the Blizzard definition of what they consider an MAU:

"We monitor monthly active users (“MAUs”) as a key measure of the overall size of our user base. MAUs are the number of individuals who accessed a particular game in a given month. ... An individual who accesses two of our games would be counted as two users.

I don't believe there's any fractions involved at all.

[glowpipe]

they are counting people who log into the battle.net app you know the thing that auto starts when your PC turns on

That is the MAU's

They are specifically saying world of warcraft is doing great. Stop trying to turn it around to match you false narrative

[StillMcfuu]

World of Warcraft is on track to deliver its strongest engagement and net bookings outside of a Modern expansion year in a decade.

Imagine everyone screaming dear murder, and its still making more money than similar periods of "successful expansions".

Yes yes, its the 1mil people remaining each buying 5 tokens per day, right?

As i have said before, the game has problems, but its literally a tiny % screaming dear murder on every possible platform, while the true casuals dont care, and the better players dont care also, they just do their thing.

What that sentence means is that outside of years with expansion launches, WoW is doing a little better than it used to. The reason for that is MTX are more prevalent now than they were for most of the last decade. Not to mention this is an expansion launch year with TBC. It's a really fancy way of saying "we are doing ok" if you don't take into consideration 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, or 2020.