We heard about the job cuts at Blizzard's HQ in Irvine, now comes word of additonal staff being laid off at Blizzard's Ireland branch as well.

Posted on Irishtimes.com on March 1, 2012:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0301/1224312582983.html
BARRY ROCHE, Southern Correspondent
CORK SUFFERED a jobs blow last night when US computer game company Blizzard Entertainment announced it is to lay off 200 staff at its operation in the city.

The company employs 900 at its plant in Blackpool on Cork’s northside and staff were briefed yesterday by management on the proposed cuts.

Blizzard Entertainment is a division of US-headquartered Activision Blizzard which yesterday announced that it was cutting its workforce globally by some 600 employees.

According to Activision Blizzard, it anticipates that about 90 per cent of the affected 600 employees will come from departments not related to game development.

The Cork facility supports European players of Blizzard’s flagship World of Warcraft game which, along with its games Starcraft and Diablo, is one of its biggest sellers.

The company confirmed that some 200 jobs are to go across different language groups at its Cork operation on foot of a review of its operational needs.

The firm said that company management will enter into a consultation with all employees at the plant eligible to apply for voluntary redundancy.

Blizzard said it will continue to offer the same level of customer support from its Cork site in eight official languages of the European Union.

IDA Ireland confirmed it had been briefed on the announcement by Blizzard Entertainment and the agency would continue to support the Cork site which remains a significant employer.

An industry source expressed confidence that many of those affected by the Blizzard announcement possess the skills to find alternative employment within the gaming sector in Ireland.

The gaming company announced the creation of 100 jobs when establishing its Cork operation in 2007. However, this quickly grew to its existing level.
600 at Irvine + 200 in Ireland, probably more elsewhere. Maybe a total of 1000 worldwide?