Blizzard Entertainment was founded almost three decades ago by three university students -Michael Morhaime, Frank Pearce, and Allen Adam. Pearce was a programmer on Blizzard’s earlier titles, including The Lost Vikings, Blackthorne, Diablo, and StarCraft. He later took on the role of chief development officer at Blizzard. The studio has had a massive impact on the gaming industry because the team has produced titles like Diablo, Overwatch, and Starcraft. Cofounder, Allen Adham, left Blizzard in 2004 but returned to the company in 2016. Last year, co-founder Mike Morhaime announced that he was leaving, and by April 2019 he left Blizzard completely. Now, less than a year after Morhaime left, Frank Pearce is doing the same.
In a blog post on Blizzard’s website, Pearce announced his departure and wrote that it was his time to move on, and to “pass the torch to the next generation of leaders.”
Pearce said the following on the studio’s website:
“The time has come for me to step away from Blizzard and pass the torch to the next generation of leaders. My journey as part of the Blizzard community began over 28 years ago. Allen offered me an opportunity to join him and Mike in their adventure and dream to make video games. Video games were a passion that we shared, and I had only a fleeting hope that I would have the opportunity to make games one day…
Everything I have done at Blizzard has been driven by my passion. I have worked very hard and very passionately for a very long time. Now it is time for me to reflect and be thoughtful about what comes next. I plan to spend more time active in the outdoors. I’d like to learn to play an instrument. I hope to devote more time to aspects of my life that may not have gotten as much attention in the past.”
Blizzard’s president J. Allen Brack added the following to Pearce’s post:
“The time has come to say goodbye to one of my heroes, one of our founders, as well as one of our friends. When I moved into my new position last year, Frank stepped into an advisory role to help with the transition, specifically working with Ray Gresko and me on our games, culture, and the future of Blizzard. His support has been invaluable to us and to say we’re going to miss him is an understatement… Blizzard is better because of Frank Pearce.”
“We wish Pearce the best of luck in the future. It seems like he’s going to focus on his personal life instead of accepting another role in the gaming industry. However, only time will tell if he decides to take on another project.”
While Pearce doesn’t say if he is going somewhere else after this, he does speak of the engaging in more hobbies in the near future. As mentioned before, cofounder Mike Morhaime left the company earlier this year in April. Allen Adham now remains the last Blizzard co-founder still at the company, though he did leave in 2004 and return in 2016.
