Diablo Franchise Shakeup: Rod Fergusson Departs Blizzard

VermontDigitalNews.com August 8, 2025

0 2 minutes read

Diablo has had its ups and downs over the years, but its latest era is coming to an end with the departure of a key Blizzard employee. For the past five years, the franchise has been steered by Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson, previously known for his work on Gears of War. That time has seen the release of Diablo 2: Resurrected, Diablo Immortal, Diablo 4, and Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred.

Fergusson announced his departure from Blizzard and Microsoft on X today, noting that he’s “incredibly proud” of what the studio has built in his time there. He states that Diablo‘s “teams are set up for success,” speaking optimistically about the future of both the game and his own career. Blizzard president Johanna Faries thanked Fergusson for his tenure in a quote tweet.

Rod Fergusson Leaving Diablo Is A Major Shift

Diablo’s Future Could Look Very Different

Diablo 4 has generated plenty of criticism over the years, to say nothing of Diablo Immortal‘s infamous announcement as a mobile title (which came before Fergusson’s tenure). Fergusson’s tenure will likely remain controversial, but most of the replies to his announcement of departure are thoughtful, focusing on wishing him luck in future endeavors.

Much of the community’s exposure to Fergusson came from patch update videos, including his participation in a memorable segment comparing the game’s Malignant Tunnels to colonoscopies. Lead class designer Adam Jackson left earlier this year, so the faces at the forefront of the franchise are shifting in relatively short succession.

Microsoft’s Gaming Division Just Keeps Changing

Fergusson Is Only The Latest Shake-Up

Although this seems much more amicable than Microsoft’s widespread layoffs and cancellations, changes at Microsoft’s gaming division just haven’t let off the brakes. In July, major projects like the Perfect Dark reboot and Rare’s Everwild were canceled, and just yesterday, the planned Xbox exclusive Contraband from Avalanche Studios met the same reported fate.

There’s a lot of speculation about what the future of Diablo could hold, and after a long period of community frustration, some of it is optimistic. Diablo 4‘s release generated more positivity than Diablo 3‘s, but dissatisfaction has grown over the years since its launch. While some updates have gone over well, the overall pace and focus of content have frustrated those who feel unhappy with basic aspects of the game.

It’s not hard to imagine that some changes will be in store with Rod Fergusson’s departure, although whether those changes will ultimately satisfy the fanbase remains to be seen. Either way, the future of Diablo at Blizzard just got a big shakeup after five years of Fergusson’s guiding hand.