Former Head of World of Warcraft Team Leaves Blizzard

Rob Pardo, the man who served as lead designer during World of Warcraft’s development, is leaving Blizzard. Pardo joined the studio seventeen years ago to work on the first StarCraft. His most recent position at Blizzard was chief creative officer.

In a lengthy post on Blizzard’s forum, Pardo explains that he’s leaving Blizzard after 17 years, but can’t say what he’s going to do next. The 44-year-old Pardo will first spend time with his family and playing games in the coming summer months. Pardo leaves Blizzard because it’s time for “the next step in his career,” without telling what step that will be.

Pardo joined Blizzard after working as a producer for publisher Interplay on games such as Whiplash and Mortal Kombat Trilogy. His love for RTS games brought him to Blizzard, where he became part of the team that worked on StarCraft. With the StarCraft: Brood War expansion, he already managed to get the position of lead designer, a role he would also fulfill in the expansion The Frozen Throne of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. After that, Pardo headed the team for many years within Blizzard that developed the blockbuster World of Warcraft. He would also fulfill that role in the expansion The Burning Crusade. After that first expansion hit the market, Pardo took on the overarching position of chief creative officer at Blizzard.