Blizzard Entertainment has made a monumental announcement that heralds the return of a legendary figure to the World of Warcraft team. Chris Metzen, who dedicated 23 years to the company before his retirement in 2016, is making a full-time comeback to Blizzard, as reported by VGC.
In an official statement posted on World of Warcraft’s Twitter account, it was revealed that Chris Metzen, a pivotal creative force behind the Warcraft universe, has taken on the role of executive creative director. The announcement read, “Right now, [Metzen’s] main focus is supporting our World of Warcraft leadership in crafting the next generation of adventures. Chris was instrumental in developing the foundations of the Warcraft universe, and we are thrilled for him to re-join our teams in shaping what’s to come.”
Although Metzen had returned to the studio in an advisory capacity last year, this move represents a significant escalation of his involvement.
Metzen’s association with the series traces all the way back to 1994 with Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, where he contributed to concept art, illustrations, and documentation. This classic real-time strategy game served as the initial introduction to the Warcraft universe, laying the groundwork for a series that would eventually spawn one of the most acclaimed MMOs in history.
The tweet also disclosed that Metzen will be making an appearance at the upcoming BlizzCon, Blizzard’s annual convention scheduled for this November. Blizzard stated, “At Blizzcon, [Metzen] and the team will be sharing what we’ve been working on. We hope to see you there!”
Metzen not only served as the creative director for the influential RTS title Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos but also made substantial contributions in scriptwriting, artwork, and voice work for World of Warcraft leading up to its 2004 launch. He is particularly renowned for lending his voice to Thrall, a prominent figure in the Warcraft narrative, known as an orc leader and freedom fighter.
In essence, Metzen’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the Warcraft franchise’s history, making him exceptionally qualified to guide the MMO into its next chapter. While World of Warcraft: Dragonflight received a generally positive reception, the lingering disappointment from the Shadowlands expansion still lingers. The long-running MMO is poised to benefit from a resurgence of classic Blizzard brilliance, and with Metzen’s return, it may just achieve that long-awaited revitalization.
