Blizzard expands European services

Blizzard Entertainment has unveiled plans to open up a new call centre in Ireland, with support from the IDA Ireland, a government agency responsible for securing overseas investment.

Initially 50 new jobs will be created by the move, with that figure rising to 100 over three years as Blizzard looks to further increase its customer support capability.

The call centre will be located in Cork City, and Ireland's minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin, believes it's a good sign for the country.

"This decision by Blizzard to establish a new European customer support centre in Cork is further evidence of how Ireland is viewed internationally as a leading location for cutting edge investment in the exciting world of digital content."

He went on to state his view that the sector was a priority for the government agency: "Interactive entertainment is one of the fastest-growing and most popular recreational sectors globally, and this demand is creating new opportunities for Ireland as a platform for this highly innovative industry."

"It is a strategic target for IDA Ireland and we are fast becoming a location of choice for many of the world's most advanced Internet and digital content companies, as Blizzard has shown today."

The main drive for Blizzard's need to expand the customer support team is down to the continuing demand for flagship title World of Warcraft.

No details on the kind of support the company received from the IDA were released, so it is unclear whether or not any financial incentives were involved.