Early today, Blizzard Entertainment’s Chris Metzen announced that he would finally be retiring, to spend time with his family.

Coming off the release of World of Warcraft’s newest expansion, Legion, Metzen gave the reader a peek into his history with the company and what Blizzard and himself were able to accomplish just this year for the franchise.

Twenty three years ago, a young Metzen applied for job in a studio called Chaos Studios. Over the years their success would lead the studio re-branding itself into a name I’m sure you’re all familiar with: Blizzard Entertainment.

Metzen started off doing illustrations for a game titled Justice League Task Force and over time his artwork and designs began to be used more and more in Blizzard’s games. It wasn’t until Blizzard announced a new IP called Diablo that Metzen would move for the first time into a role that would allow him to shape the universe that the game would take place in, but it wouldn’t be the last.

Starting in 2002 with the release of Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, Metzen moved into a creative director position for the game and would continue to hold that position for the remainder of his time with the company. He was the man whose hand molded and made World of Warcraft as we know it into the biggest and most popular MMORPG of all time. For that, Chris Metzen has undoubtedly earned himself the title of “legend.”

He said that he was proud of everything that he has done and what the World of Warcraft team have done, but feels it’s time for him to go home to and spend some more time with his wife.

To many of us, Warcraft 3 and later World of Warcraft had huge impacts on our childhood and adolescence, and Metzen played no small part in that. If anyone in this industry has earned themselves the right to retire (or at least a break) it would be him.

Go enjoy yourself Warchief, and always remember Lok’tar ogar!

Image Source: Gamespot