Ben Brode Leaves Blizzard Entertainment
Ben Brode has posted a very important announcement this afternoon. After working at Blizzard for 15 years and developing Hearthstone for almost 10, he has decided to leave the company.
Thank you, Ben, for all the communication you've given the community over the years, the laughs, and most importantly, this game.
Quote from Ben BrodeTo my friends, coworkers, and the Hearthstone community,
After 15 years at Blizzard and almost 10 years working on Hearthstone, I have made the incredibly difficult decision to embark on a new journey.
Man, that was a hard sentence to type.
I was 20 years old when I started here. My first role was ‘Night Crew Game Tester.’
Since then, Blizzard has been good to me. I got to cast esports events, announce BlizzCons, play in Rock Bands, write raps, and work with incredible people. But the biggest opportunity came in 2008 when I joined “Team 5.” The Hearthstone Team.
I am very proud of Hearthstone. I think we made an impact on the industry. People tell me that Hearthstone brought their family closer together, or that they became close friends with people they met at a Fireside Gathering. Others tell me they were inspired by Hearthstone to become game developers themselves. It’s incredible to be a part of something that touches so many people.
But as proud as I am of Hearthstone, I am even more proud of the team.
There is no team like the Hearthstone team. People have come and gone over the 10 years Hearthstone has been in development, but there’s something special about the Soul of the Team. We knew our most important product wasn’t the game, but the team itself. A great team can do great things, and I think the Hearthstone team is the greatest. It isn’t just a job. It’s a shared passion. We get to come to work and focus on the game we love and try to make it better every day.
We frequently check the Hearthstone subreddit looking for opportunities to improve the game. I have loved the silly memes, engaging in spirited debates, or even just being held accountable to our shared high standards for the game. We try to be highly available on social media, and I think our team helped push the envelope in this regard. It has been especially satisfying to me to see the team step up over the last few years and help engage in these ways as I became more focused on direction and less on actual design.
I get too much credit by virtue of being a public face, but the 80+ people on the development team are still there, and they are the ones actually making the cards, brawls, events, missions, and features. I am confident the game is in the best possible hands, and I’m excited to see where a new generation of leaders takes Hearthstone from here.
I am very fortunate to be able to take a crazy risk right now in my life, and I’m excited to be scrappy and a little scared. I’m going to help start a new company. We’ll probably make games, but we haven’t figured anything else out, yet. I’m looking forward to designing, programming, and actually creating things again. I’m going to miss the on-campus Starbucks, though. Dang.
Blizzard, thank you for taking a chance on me, and thank you for taking a chance on Hearthstone. I can’t wait to see what you do next.
And to the passionate community of players – I will miss you, and the laughs we shared together. Thank you for making being a part of Hearthstone so much fun for me. I’ve loved every minute.
Sincerely,
Ben Brode
With this and the nunu's rework being confirmated in LoL, i would believe that today is april's fools, sadly it is not :,c, he'll be missed
Hearthstone has lost a piece of its soul. Thank you for putting your heart into the community for so many years ):
All the very best in whatever you decide to do next Ben Brode.
Just a lil' bit of arcane dust in my eye, that's all...I swear...
My jaws that bite hit the floor when i read this news...Best of luck Benjamin Brode.
I am more distraught at this news than I could have expected. Probably because I never expected it. However, I am SUPER excited to see what he dreams up for his next project. Whatever it is I will be excited to give it a go, 'cause let's face we here all love the guy. Thanks for all the fun, Ben Brode!
Hearthstone won’t be the same without Ben Brode :(
Benassi... :BibleThump:
I'm crying right now :(
I'll miss you Rap God Brode, I'll miss you dearly.
Same like the guy in first posts wrote: It's not the news I expected to see in Hearthpwn today.
Thanks for helping to bring this good game to the players. Hope you will be successful with the new job.
Best of luck with your endeavours Master Ben! I look forward to seeing what shenanigans you get up too in the future! I am absolutely certain that we will all be hearing that glorious laugh again! To the hall of fame!
Good luck Mr. Brode! The product your team created helped me get through college and the beginning of parenthood and gave me joy every day that I didn't face a Patron Warrior. :D Happy trails to you.
no ben brode day9 combo for nxt expansion T.T
There has GOT to be a card in the next expansion dedicated to the Brode. Imma be mad if there’s not
We're gonna miss you, man. You made the game great and we're all grateful for everything you've done!
Except for Flamewreathed Faceless...
But, everything else, THANK YOU!
I hope you left for a s***load of money... because you had the best job in the world.
Not the news I was expecting when I opened Hearthpwn :(
Well, good luck to you, sir and all the best.
Also, don't be shy to tell us the game your company will be developing, we'll be sure to have a look :)
no wonder the shuttercock nerfs never came... whoever it is behind the scenes overruled ben...
Come back soon!!! :3
I really wish this was just an April Fools joke. My hurt to skipped a beat...
Thanks for everything, Ben. You'll be missed by everyone! Good luck on your future adventures, hope we get to keep watching you rap to your heart's content :)