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Warcraft lore master Chris Metzen is back at Blizzard full-time to work on WoW’s “next generation of adventures”After returning as creative advisor last year
After returning as creative advisor last year
Chris Metzen, one of Warcraft’s longest and most influential lore-crafters for more than two decades before heretired back in 2016, has returned to work at Blizzard full-time.What’s It Like To Start World Of Warcraft From Scratch?Watch on YouTubeIf you’re thinking “Hold on, didn’t this already happen?” you’d be somewhat right. After retiring from his position as senior vice president of story and franchise development in 2016, after a nearly 23-year run that saw him work on every Warcraft game from the original Orcs & Humans through toWorld of Warcraftand its earlier expansions - as well as being creative director for the firstOverwatchand providing a number of voices to boot - Metzencame back as creative advisorfor the Warcraft series in late 2022.In the interim, Metzen went off tolaunch tabletop games company Warchiefin 2018 alongside fellow Blizzard alumnus Mike Gilmartin andHearthstonedesigner Ryan Collins, which launched a fantasy setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5E, Auroboros: Coils of the Serpent, based on Metzen’s own childhood D&D campaign.Image credit:Blizzard EntertainmentMetzen’s latest move back into the Blizzard fold sees him step up from advisor to a full-time role as executive creative director for the Warcraft universe. In an announcement post on X, Blizzard said that the veteran dev’s main focus will be “crafting the next generation of adventures” with the World of Warcraft team.Metzen’s own announcement added: “It’s been amazing working on Warcraft again. Like coming home. The stories we’re developing right now – how the world unfolds over the next few years… Well, I can’t wait for y’all to see where we’re headed.”It’s been amazing working on Warcraft again. Like coming home. The stories we’re developing right now – how the world unfolds over the next few years… Well, I can’t wait for y’all to see where we’re headed.SOON… :)https://t.co/7hPIR8YEr0— Chris Metzen (@ChrisMetzen)September 26, 2023To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settingsMetzen teased that we’ll see the outcome of that work “SOON”, with Blizzard saying a reveal will take place at this year’s BlizzCon, which takes place on November 3rd and 4th.While Metzen had left Blizzard half a decade before the publisher faced a lawsuit from the State of Californiaover its toxic workplace, and faced no direct accusations himself, Metzenpublicly apologisedat the time for “the part I played in a culture that fostered harassment, inequality and indifference”, adding “there is no excuse” for Blizzard’s “failed” culture.Activision Blizzard are currently the subject of a number oflegal actions,labour disputesand allegations ofworkplace harassment. Rock Paper Shotgun will continue to write about these issues, as well as covering Activision Blizzard games as part of our commitment to cover subjects of interest to our readers. The latest news can always be found under ourActivision Blizzardtag.
Chris Metzen, one of Warcraft’s longest and most influential lore-crafters for more than two decades before heretired back in 2016, has returned to work at Blizzard full-time.What’s It Like To Start World Of Warcraft From Scratch?Watch on YouTubeIf you’re thinking “Hold on, didn’t this already happen?” you’d be somewhat right. After retiring from his position as senior vice president of story and franchise development in 2016, after a nearly 23-year run that saw him work on every Warcraft game from the original Orcs & Humans through toWorld of Warcraftand its earlier expansions - as well as being creative director for the firstOverwatchand providing a number of voices to boot - Metzencame back as creative advisorfor the Warcraft series in late 2022.In the interim, Metzen went off tolaunch tabletop games company Warchiefin 2018 alongside fellow Blizzard alumnus Mike Gilmartin andHearthstonedesigner Ryan Collins, which launched a fantasy setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5E, Auroboros: Coils of the Serpent, based on Metzen’s own childhood D&D campaign.Image credit:Blizzard EntertainmentMetzen’s latest move back into the Blizzard fold sees him step up from advisor to a full-time role as executive creative director for the Warcraft universe. In an announcement post on X, Blizzard said that the veteran dev’s main focus will be “crafting the next generation of adventures” with the World of Warcraft team.Metzen’s own announcement added: “It’s been amazing working on Warcraft again. Like coming home. The stories we’re developing right now – how the world unfolds over the next few years… Well, I can’t wait for y’all to see where we’re headed.”It’s been amazing working on Warcraft again. Like coming home. The stories we’re developing right now – how the world unfolds over the next few years… Well, I can’t wait for y’all to see where we’re headed.SOON… :)https://t.co/7hPIR8YEr0— Chris Metzen (@ChrisMetzen)September 26, 2023To see this content please enable targeting cookies.Manage cookie settingsMetzen teased that we’ll see the outcome of that work “SOON”, with Blizzard saying a reveal will take place at this year’s BlizzCon, which takes place on November 3rd and 4th.While Metzen had left Blizzard half a decade before the publisher faced a lawsuit from the State of Californiaover its toxic workplace, and faced no direct accusations himself, Metzenpublicly apologisedat the time for “the part I played in a culture that fostered harassment, inequality and indifference”, adding “there is no excuse” for Blizzard’s “failed” culture.Activision Blizzard are currently the subject of a number oflegal actions,labour disputesand allegations ofworkplace harassment. Rock Paper Shotgun will continue to write about these issues, as well as covering Activision Blizzard games as part of our commitment to cover subjects of interest to our readers. The latest news can always be found under ourActivision Blizzardtag.
Chris Metzen, one of Warcraft’s longest and most influential lore-crafters for more than two decades before heretired back in 2016, has returned to work at Blizzard full-time.
What’s It Like To Start World Of Warcraft From Scratch?Watch on YouTube
What’s It Like To Start World Of Warcraft From Scratch?
If you’re thinking “Hold on, didn’t this already happen?” you’d be somewhat right. After retiring from his position as senior vice president of story and franchise development in 2016, after a nearly 23-year run that saw him work on every Warcraft game from the original Orcs & Humans through toWorld of Warcraftand its earlier expansions - as well as being creative director for the firstOverwatchand providing a number of voices to boot - Metzencame back as creative advisorfor the Warcraft series in late 2022.
In the interim, Metzen went off tolaunch tabletop games company Warchiefin 2018 alongside fellow Blizzard alumnus Mike Gilmartin andHearthstonedesigner Ryan Collins, which launched a fantasy setting for Dungeons & Dragons 5E, Auroboros: Coils of the Serpent, based on Metzen’s own childhood D&D campaign.
Image credit:Blizzard Entertainment
Metzen’s latest move back into the Blizzard fold sees him step up from advisor to a full-time role as executive creative director for the Warcraft universe. In an announcement post on X, Blizzard said that the veteran dev’s main focus will be “crafting the next generation of adventures” with the World of Warcraft team.
Metzen’s own announcement added: “It’s been amazing working on Warcraft again. Like coming home. The stories we’re developing right now – how the world unfolds over the next few years… Well, I can’t wait for y’all to see where we’re headed.”
It’s been amazing working on Warcraft again. Like coming home. The stories we’re developing right now – how the world unfolds over the next few years… Well, I can’t wait for y’all to see where we’re headed.SOON… :)https://t.co/7hPIR8YEr0— Chris Metzen (@ChrisMetzen)September 26, 2023
It’s been amazing working on Warcraft again. Like coming home. The stories we’re developing right now – how the world unfolds over the next few years… Well, I can’t wait for y’all to see where we’re headed.SOON… :)https://t.co/7hPIR8YEr0
Metzen teased that we’ll see the outcome of that work “SOON”, with Blizzard saying a reveal will take place at this year’s BlizzCon, which takes place on November 3rd and 4th.
While Metzen had left Blizzard half a decade before the publisher faced a lawsuit from the State of Californiaover its toxic workplace, and faced no direct accusations himself, Metzenpublicly apologisedat the time for “the part I played in a culture that fostered harassment, inequality and indifference”, adding “there is no excuse” for Blizzard’s “failed” culture.
Activision Blizzard are currently the subject of a number oflegal actions,labour disputesand allegations ofworkplace harassment. Rock Paper Shotgun will continue to write about these issues, as well as covering Activision Blizzard games as part of our commitment to cover subjects of interest to our readers. The latest news can always be found under ourActivision Blizzardtag.
