Rod Fergusson, who led the Diablo series for the last five years, announced his surprise departure from Blizzard Entertainment. Fergusson’s departure sparked widespread controversy both within the company and within the gaming community. The veteran producer, who helmed the Diablo series for five years, officially announced his departure from Blizzard on social media.
A new Diablo game may not be coming
The departure comes after Microsoft implemented mass layoffs in recent months, affecting approximately 9,000 people. While there is no clear link between Fergusson’s departure and these layoffs, the striking timing suggests that the decision has been in the works for some time.
Fergusson did not elaborate on the reason for his departure, but stated that he and his team will focus on new projects and different goals in the future. There is currently no information suggesting that Fergusson and his team have signed with another company.
Just before Fergusson’s departure, the AI crisis surrounding the promotional campaign for Diablo Immortal and Hearthstone also became a hot topic. Blizzard used an AI-generated image as a promotional image to announce the crossover between the two games, and this quickly sparked intense criticism on social media.
Inaccuracies in the visual were quickly identified by users. The recent spate of major layoffs, particularly the decision to use AI instead of allocating budgets to artists, fueled further backlash. These developments suggest that trust within the company has been shaken, and such discussions may have contributed to Fergusson’s decision to leave.
Fergusson said in a statement, “After carrying the Diablo series forward with four major launches over five years, it’s time for me to leave Blizzard with my sword. Our team is ready for new success, and we have an exciting slate of games ahead of us. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m eager to see what the future holds for me and Diablo.”
This departure creates a significant leadership void at Blizzard and brings with it uncertainties surrounding the development of the new Diablo game. It remains to be seen how the long-term roadmap established under Fergusson’s leadership will evolve and what strategy the company will adopt with the new executives.
