Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » Video

Blizzard Entertainment Veteran Game Designer Of Warcraft, Starcraft And Diablo Retires From Gaming Industry

Travelers Today       By    Chen Gomez

Updated: Nov 22, 2016 03:47 AM EST

Text Size: A A A

Earlier this year, American video game designer, Chris Metzen left video games company Blizzard Entertainment and retired from the whole business of video gaming at the age of 42 years old. Metzen worked for the company for 23 years and helped create many of Blizzard's famous game franchises, such as Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo.

According to Eurogamer.net, Metzen stated his reasons for leaving the industry on a podcast with Scott Johnson. "Leaving Blizzard was an incredibly difficult thing," he said during a special episode of The Instance podcast. "I'd been there since, essentially, I was a kid. I think I was 19 when I got hired and it was my whole life, it was my identity. And it was in many ways, all-consuming. It was just incredible, but there can be a cost sometimes to running that hard."

Metzen also explained in the podcast the effects of the development of Blizzard's first-ever released first-person shooter game, Overwatch, which was originally brought forth from a cancelled game known as Project Titan. The game was developed for seven years, in which Metzen felt burned out really hard, until it was cancelled.

"I think in my heart, I needed a change in my life," he said, according to Gamespot. "I wanted to slow down, I wanted to just not carry the weight of it all. But when you've been at a company like Blizzard for as long as I have, I think about Shawshank Redemption: I'm an institutional man now. I'm a Blizzard guy, through and through. I love that place. I love the people. It made me feel schizophrenic."

Even though Overwatch became a huge success, the game's development caused him severe stress that led him to experience panic attacks. "Before I finally retired, I think I had been having panic attacks all the time, but I didn't know what they were. Kat (Metzen's wife) and I would go on dates to go to a movie and almost all the time, I would start panicking in the middle of a movie. I had no idea what was going on." Another reason for retiring was for his newborn daughter. Chris Metzen was known as the face of Blizzard Entertainment, and also the senior vice president of story and franchise development before leaving the company.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
Chris Metzen , blizzard entertainment , Video Games , Warcraft , Starcraft , Diablo , Scott Johnson , The Instance podcast , overwatch , Project Titan
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics