There’s some big news coming out of the Diablo franchise of ARPGs, as the series’ general manager Rod Fergusson has announced that he will be leaving Blizzard after five years in his position for what sounds like some potential new pastures.
“It’s time for me to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what’s next,” Fergusson writes. “The teams are set up for success, with an exciting slate of releases ahead. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and looking forward to what comes next for Diablo, and for me.”
Fergusson’s body of work for the franchise saw him manage the release of Diablo IV and its Vessel of Hatred expansion, Diablo Immortal, and Diablo 2 Resurrected. Fergusson is also largely credited as a “closer” who saw challenging games make it to release, including Gears of War and its various sequels as well as Bioshock Infinite.
While most replies to his tweet are full of well-wishes and industry professionals thanking him for his work, the vast majority of reaction by fans can be classed as significantly less wholesome, with many laying the blame for the state of D4 at his feet. Whether he’ll continue to manage other beleaguered releases remains to be seen, but for now, his tenure at Blizzard is complete.
