Skip to main content

Overwatch 2 executive producer leaving Blizzard amid lawsuit

As publishing giant Activision Blizzard faces legal woes on all fronts, the company is beginning to bleed leadership. Blizzard’s president, J. Allen Brack, stepped down from his post in August, and according to a report from Bloomberg, he’s being followed by the executive producer of one of the company’s biggest franchises.

The report claims that Chacko Sonny, the current executive producer of Overwatch, will be leaving the company this Friday, September 24. His departure was confirmed to Bloomberg by a spokesman for Activision Blizzard. Sonny’s role at the studio was nearly essential, tasking him with overseeing the entire Overwatch franchise as well as the development of Overwatch 2, a job that became much more important since Jeff Kaplan, former director of Overwatch, left Blizzard in April. Multiple anonymous sources told Bloomberg that Sonny was seen as a “stabilizing force on the Overwatch team.”

Recommended Videos

Sonny’s departure comes the same week that legal pressure against Activision Blizzard is ratcheted up by an investigation from the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This investigation, propped up by a lawsuit filed by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, specifically looks into Activision Blizzard’s handling of sexual misconduct and abuse allegations. To that end, the government oversight agency has filed subpoenas against multiple high-ranking Activision Blizzard executives, including CEO Bobby Kotick.

Activision Blizzard’s legal woes began in July with the lawsuit filed by the State of California, which alleged that the company had developed a “frat boy” culture in which sexual harassment, abuse, and pay discrimination were commonplace.

Otto Kratky
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Otto Kratky is a freelance writer with many homes. You can find his work at Digital Trends, GameSpot, and Gamepur. If he's…
Overwatch 2 is collaborating with Transformers, and it looks radical
overwatch 2 transfomers crossover teaser transformers reinhardt

Overwatch 2 x Transformers Collaboration Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games

The long-awaited Transformers and Overwatch 2 collaboration is almost here. Blizzard Entertainment released a cinematic trailer on Monday teasing the crossover and introducing new skins.

Read more
Overwatch 2’s packed Season 11 update brings new map, legendary skins
Mercy in her rose gold outfit. Her hair is strawberry blonde with pink tips and her outfit is different shades of pink.

Blizzard is celebrating 100 million players in Overwatch 2 by bringing back a fan-favorite skin, along with a new map and other changes for its 11th season that launches on June 20.

In an announcement Monday, the studio revealed that the theme of Season 11 will be Super Mega Ultrawatch, where players can unlock superhero-themed Legendary Ultrawatch skins and go up against the evil and magical Mythic Calamity Empress Ashe and B.O.B. These skins for Genji, Repaer, and Sojourn will be available in the Season 11 premium battle pass.

Read more
Crash Bandicoot 4 dev partners with Xbox for next game — after leaving Xbox
Crash Bandicoot emerging from a tunnel, with a smirk on his face.

Toys for Bob, the now-independent game developer best known for its work on Call of Duty and Crash Bandicoot games, announced that it struck a deal with Xbox, its former parent company, to publish its next game.

The studio revealed the move on X (formerly Twitter) Friday, adding that while the game is still in the early stages of development, the team is "working hard on an experience we're so sooo inspired about."

Read more