General Manager of Warcraft Leaves Blizzard After 12 Years

John Hight, General Manager and Senior Vice President of the Warcraft franchise, who has overseen the development and operations of games such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Warcraft Rumble over the past three years, has announced on X/Twitter that he is leaving the studio to seek new experiences.

General Manager of Warcraft Leaves Blizzard

“After 12 incredible years at Blizzard, I have decided to step away and embark on a new quest,” he wrote. “It was a difficult decision, but I feel that now is as good a time as any: Warcraft is in an amazing place as the universe turns 30 years old.”

After 12 incredible years at Blizzard, I’ve decided to step away & start a new quest.

It was a tough decision, but I feel like now is as good a time as any: Warcraft is in an amazing position as the universe turns 30.

I’ve been so honored to serve all of the heroes of Azeroth.

— John Hight (@JHight_Gamer) June 13, 2024

“I am deeply honored to have served all the heroes of Azeroth. You are the most passionate, dedicated, and creative community in the world of video games. That is why I have poured my heart and soul into creating the best games possible. You inspired me, challenged me, and made me a stronger developer.”

“I also want to share my immense gratitude and confidence in the teams and leaders supporting all the games across the Warcraft universe. I know you will take WoW, Hearthstone, and Rumble to new heights, and I can’t wait to experience your vision alongside other players.”

“As for what comes next in my journey, I don’t have any specific details to share yet, but I am excited to explore new opportunities and challenges in the industry, and to continue creating great games with talented people. Thank you again for making these years so unforgettable, and I will still see you in Azeroth, now as a player.”

An Industry Veteran With a Successful Track Record

Hight joined Blizzard in November 2011, becoming the Executive Producer and Vice President of World of Warcraft while also leading the production of the console version of Diablo 3. In the 1990s, Hight worked as Creative Director at 3DO Company before moving to Electronic Arts, where he was Executive Producer of numerous Westwood Studios games.

After a three-year stint at Atari and a year as a board member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, Hight joined Sony Santa Monica as Director of Product Development, where he worked on God of War 3 and the launch of PlayStation Network.

World of Warcraft’s New Expansion Date Announced

Last Sunday at the Xbox Games Showcase, the release date for World of Warcraft: The War Within, the new expansion for the iconic MMORPG, was announced. It will be available on August 26.

The tenth expansion of World of Warcraft is the initial chapter of the most ambitious storyline in the game’s nearly 20-year history. In this expansion, the first of three in the Soul World saga, we will explore Khaz Algar, an underground world where characters such as Anduin, Thrall, and Magni Bronzebeard will make appearances.

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