Co-Founder of Blizzard Michael Morhaime Steps Down as President

Overwatch

It was recently announced that co-founder and president of Blizzard Entertainment, Michael Morhaime, is stepping down. If you’re unfamiliar with the name, this is the man who spearheaded countless hours of entertainment for hundreds of thousands of gamers with titles like World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Overwatch. Morhaime will now serve as an advisor to the company, and will be replaced by J. Allen Brack, who was his right-hand man in all aspects of prior titles and expansions.

In a letter to the Blizzard community, Morhaime wrote:

I truly believe that this amazing community has the potential to be a shining light to the rest of the industry by setting a positive example of inclusivity, tolerance, and acceptance toward others. In the words of one of Blizzard’s core values: remember to always play nice; play fair. I know this community is capable of changing the world.

Newly-appointed president Brack added:

Today has been a swirl of emotions. First, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to Mike. His work on some of our industry’s most iconic games is the reason I came to Blizzard. Not only is he an inspiring leader, but he’s also been a wise and patient mentor to me during my time at Blizzard. And he’s been a good friend. Joining the World of Warcraft team and my favorite game company nearly 13 years ago was an unimaginable dream. Now, to be chosen to lead Blizzard into the future is both a huge honor, and a tremendous responsibility.

How do you guys feel about Morhaime stepping down? Let us know in the comments.

[Source: Blizzard]