Rod Fergusson, SVP and general manager for Diablo, has left Blizzard Entertainment. In a new tweet, he said it’s “time for me to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft,” and “see what’s next.” However, he’s “incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and looking forward to what comes next for Diablo, and for me.”
Fergusson joined Blizzard in 2020 after working at The Coalition and leading Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Gears of War 4, and Gears 5. His role involved overseeing the Diablo franchise, which heavily involved Diablo 4’s development, release, and post-launch support.
As for the future of the action RPG looter, Fergusson said the teams are “set up for success” and that fans could look forward to an “exciting slate of releases ahead.” Diablo 4 launched in June 2023 and received strong critical acclaim. Sales were also very positive, with over 12 million players in just two months. However, it also received extensive criticism from fans due to its lackluster endgame, build variety, crafting systems and combat mechanics.
Blizzard sought to address all of this in subsequent patches and seasons. It also launched the first story expansion, Vessel of Hatred, last year. Whether it can fulfill Fergusson’s ambition to remain around for several years remains to be seen, especially since there’s no word yet on the next expansion.
