The software forge Blizzard, responsible for hits like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, or Hearthstone, rewards long-serving employees with martial and medieval fantasy gifts.
Note: The article was originally published in 2014; we have updated it with new information and images.
While in “normal” companies a five-year membership might earn a certificate, a ten-year one a plaque and a handshake from the CEO, and a twenty-five year loyalty to the company a small celebration and a gold wristwatch, things work a bit differently at Blizzard. Every year, certain occasions bring together long-term and deserving employees to honor them in a very special way.
This image of his sword for 5 years at Blizzard was recently shared by an Overwatch employee on Imgur:
Currently, anyone who lasts two years in the service of Blizzard receives a stone mug as recognition. After five years, it’s a sword, and after ten years, there’s the appropriate shield. Since 1996, this “Sword and Shield Ceremony” has existed, marking Blizzard’s five-year anniversary.
Over the years, the sword has changed, but the shield has remained.
For veterans who have served Blizzard for fifteen years, there is a ring, either in a masculine or feminine edition. And for those who stick around for another five years, there is a helmet to celebrate their twentieth work anniversary.
But what do you get for 25 years at Blizzard?
For the 25th anniversary, the company also came up with something special. This reward was revealed for the first time in 2015. It was a war hammer, as indicated by a Facebook post from a Blizzard employee. For a long time, it was believed that the prize for 25 years of service at Blizzard was this war hammer.
She’s a beaut Clark! Blizzard 25 year hammer service award!!! #prototype #blizzard #hammertime pic.twitter.com/hNpHnYPmv0
— Nick @ bonfire (@fubarnick) December 17, 2015
However, that will probably not be “really” the official award from Blizzard for 25 years. The sculptor who designed the hammer says on Art Station: That was a prototype. It would have been too expensive to produce. Therefore, Blizzard opted for a different reward for 25 years of loyalty.
These special awards for Blizzard employees correspond to the fourth principle of the company philosophy: “Embrace your Inner Geek” – loosely translated, “It’s okay here to be passionate about fantasy, technology, and pop culture and to actively live this passion.”
