Diablo III Director Jay Wilson leaves team for other Blizzard projects

Diablo 3

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In a lengthy post on Blizzard's official forums (opens in new tab) , Diablo III Director Jay Wilson has announced his departure from the team he led for seven years to pursue another unspecified project at Blizzard. "I've reached a point creatively where I'm looking forward to working on something new," he writes. "This decision was not an easy one for me, and not one I made quickly, but ultimately it's what I feel is right."

Wilson's oversight of the much-hyped RPG wasn't immune from rocky periods. The clumsy, error-plagued launch (opens in new tab) frustrated fans that had waited almost a dozen years for a follow-up, and many criticized the game's end-game (opens in new tab) and real-money auction house.

But despite the difficulties, Wilson says he feels proud of Diablo III and its community, though he admits his communication could've been better at times. "I feel I have made many mistakes in managing that relationship, but my intent was always to provide a great gaming experience, and be as open and receptive as possible while still sticking true to the vision the Diablo team has for the game," he writes.

Wilson also promises future updates and support for Diablo III will continue, including the upcoming 1.0.7 PVP dueling (opens in new tab) patch. He didn't name a direct successor for taking over directing duties, but he didn't rule out the studio posting a future opening for the job "as we want to make sure we explore every opportunity to find the best possible leadership for the project."

Read the rest of Wilson's farewell on the forums (opens in new tab) .

Omri Petitte

Omri Petitte is a former PC Gamer associate editor and long-time freelance writer covering news and reviews. If you spot his name, it probably means you're reading about some kind of first-person shooter. Why yes, he would like to talk to you about Battlefield. Do you have a few days?