14 DAY TRIAL // Blizzard is one of the biggest game developers out there, being responsible for a lot of iconic franchises like StarCraft, Diablo or the recent runaway success that is World of Warcraft. With over 11,5 million paying subscribers every month, you can definitely be sure that the financial resources of the company can fully accommodate a lot of projects.
One such project is the often teased and speculated next online game that the company will be doing. While some key executives said that it wouldn't be a sequel to World of Warcraft, as it would possibly kill the game, the mist is still very thick around it. We have just learned that the lead designer of the hugely successful MMORPG has switched jobs and will now lead the team in charge with this new project.
Jeffery Kaplan, the man who has been responsible for WoW ever since it was just a small project at Blizzard, has announced this move on the official forums of the game, saying that it was a true pleasure to work with the great team on that project and thanked the user base for all the support and the suggestions they have sent to his former team.
“When all is said and done, WoW is still my favorite game. I play it every day. None of that passion is gone. If anything, it fuels the challenge of making our next MMO even better. We know we have some big shoes to fill. So thank you to everyone who has been so supportive over the years, and likewise, thanks to those who have given us pointed feedback on all areas of the game. Without all of the feedback and participation, WoW would not be the game that it has grown to be. Azeroth truly belongs to you and we're lucky to have shared in your journey.”
While this may seem like bad news for WoW fans, it definitely shows that Blizzard will shift its focus from the popular MMORPG to this new online project. Hopefully we will get to see some new details in the immediate future, but, knowing Blizzard and its “quality first” strategy, we will have to wait until it begins to shape up.