We visited Blizzard HQ in Irvine, a shrine filled with statues

For anyone who knows California at all, Irvine seems like an anomaly in the surrounding landscape. If a chatty local driver takes you there, he might tell you that it’s the perfect place to have a good time with your family on the weekend. It’s the opposite of the atmosphere in Anaheim, where the hustle and bustle is due to the presence of a Disney park. Or the excitement around the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

It’s surprisingly quiet in Irvine, which is a network of wide streets. You’ll see a few locals walking their dogs, and Teslas—including Cybertrucks—that don’t make a sound. You have to go to the mall, just 15 minutes from the Marriott hotel, to see some life. And you’ll have to drive a bit to see the sea, in Laguna Beach.

In Irvine, there are also tech companies, who come to take advantage of the silence of the place. There is in particular a street called Blizzard Way. We’ll let you guess where it leads.

Blizzard Entertainment’s offices are filled with statues and trophies

When you’re at Blizzard Entertainment, you know you’re at Blizzard Entertainment. Right from the outside, you can come across multiple decorations, whether it’s pennants or statues. At the center of the many buildings reigns the statue of the Orc on his wolfstill measuring more than 3.5 meters high. We are directly immersed in the atmosphere of a campus in glory of the many licenses imagined by Blizzard Entertainment. A little further is the tribute to the fans of Diablo 4 having reached level 100 shortly after the game’s release. Their nickname is engraved on a base where Lilith stands – who tries to resist the elements as best she can (repairs are possible).

Statues can also be found indoors. Overwatch, StarCraft, Warcraft, Diablo…: everyone is served, knowing that the artists have taken care of the details. Thus, the statue representing Illidan is decorated with UV paint, and the symbols are revealed under a black light. The campus also offers a museum filled with trophies (the Game Awards, for example) and concept art. At the time of the visit, Diablo 4 had given way to Warcraft Rumble.

Of course, Blizzard Entertainment has hidden the most secret rooms from us, where developers prepare the new features of tomorrow. However, we were able to miss the tech bar, where employees can repair/exchange their defective tools. Or the operations center, a huge room filled with computers to monitor, in real time, the flows of the different games (connections, disconnections, purchases, etc.). It is from this place that bans can be activated. Without it, Blizzard Entertainment would be sailing blind.

As you might expect, Blizzard Entertainment does everything to pamper its employees — which hasn’t prevented some excesses, materialized by a complaint from the State of California for cases of harassment. Fitness center, wellness center, canteen… There’s even a volleyball court (our guide couldn’t tell us why this choice) and an outdoor gym (it’s hot in Irvine). The famous Starbucks brand, queen of ultra-sweet drinks, also has its place there, offering exclusive drinks.

For further

The latest proof that Blizzard Entertainment is keen to keep its workforce: seniority is rewarded. After two years, you will receive a tankard, which will become a sword after five years and then a shield after a decade. The oldest and most loyal have also received a ring (15 years), or even a helmet (20 years). So many collector’s items that have only one goal: to honor the universes of a company “dedicated to creating the most epic entertainment experiences possible”, as we can read on the plaque located in front of the Orc.