After 12 Years, Dave Kosak Leaves Blizzard Entertainment!
Dave Kosak (former lead Mission Designer on the Hearthstone team) announced on Twitter that he has left Blizzard Entertainment after 12 years.
- Dave joined the Hearthstone team in November 2016 (Mean Streets of Gadgetzan), he was previously the Lead Narrative Designer for World of Warcraft.
- Dave is responsible for the character - Patches the Pirate, created during a "brainstorming session" between the Hearthstone team and the World of Warcraft story team, prior to Kosak's joining Team 5. [Source]
- He was also responsible for the PvE content like the brand new Dungeon Run (in Kobolds and Catacombs).
- Recently Dave appeared in the Madness at the Darkmoon Faire announcement video, which was sadly his last video for the Hearthstone team.
- Dave is joining the DeviationGames studio and they are working on a secret project for now, which will make us go "Whoa" when announced!
Big announcement time!
— Dave βFargoβ Kosak (@DaveKosak) October 27, 2020
After 12 remarkable years and countless adventures, I am moving on from Blizzard Entertainment. The other week I bid a fond farewell to the orc, who is dutifully wearing his mask. I will very much miss all of my Blizzard colleagues. pic.twitter.com/FJmDxFKhqN
Quote from Dave "Fargo" KosakIf you follow me because of #Hearthstone, no need to worry! Last week we announced a great expansion, a new mode, and new progression/rewards. Believe me when I say that’s only the beginning. Great things are in the works!
Quote from Dave "Fargo" KosakAnd, of course, #Shadowlands is around the corner for #WorldofWarcraft. I will be adventuring right alongside you. I am honored to have contributed to the Warcraft universe, and excited for what’s to come.
Quote from Dave "Fargo" KosakWhat’s next for me? I’m pleased to announce that I’ve taken on an important role at @DeviationGames! We are building… something secret. But amazing. I can’t say any more, but I promise: It’ll make you go “Whoa.”
We wish you the best Dave, you'll be missed!
yep, the whales that keep dumping money into this game. they never leave.
He was so cheesy but I liked him. 12 years on the same company is a lot. Nice with some change and variation.
Any info why he left?
He's joining a startup studio. Looks like he wanted to leave because he felt like he had contributed enough to Blizzard (and Hearthstone).
Since he already knows that he's joining another development studio in an important position, he's probably been planning this for a while already. Not uncommon that developers want to work on something new after being in one company for so many years, just like Ben Brode.
Purely speculation however there has been a lot of big name developers leaving Blizzard over the past few years. I find it hard to believe it's not at least in part due to the ever creeping influence Activision is having over creative ideas in the company. Every new product or expansion feels a little less Blizzard and a little more Activision. So I wouldn't blame them for wanting to leave to studios where they can explore their creative sides over purely business.
Dreamhaven? This is the new company the old blizz CEO created after he left blizz.
big up ya self cuz
I don't care. I hope he burn in h*ll because he create patches the pirate π‘π