US game firm to axe 200 jobs in Cork

Up to 200 jobs are to go at the American computer game firm, Blizzard Entertainment, in Cork city.

The company currently employs 900 people at is operation in Blackpool on Cork’s northside and staff were briefed today by management on the proposed cuts.

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

Currently 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.