Gears of War studio head Rod Fergusson is taking over the Diablo franchise at Blizzard

[Shawn Knight]

What just happened? Rod Fergusson, the studio head at The Coalition, recently announced he will be leaving the company to join Blizzard and oversee the Diablo franchise. It's a big move that could have a major impact on the development of Diablo IV.

In announcing the news on Twitter, Fergusson said it has been an honor and a privilege to work with everyone, adding that leaving is bittersweet. He’ll start his new role with Blizzard in March, we’re told.

Starting in March, I will join Blizzard to oversee the Diablo franchise. Leaving is bittersweet as I love our Gears family, the fans, and everyone at The Coalition and Xbox. Thank you, it has been an honor and a privilege to work with you all. pic.twitter.com/0FuO3RFYSQ

— Rod Fergusson (@GearsViking) February 5, 2020

Fergusson joined Microsoft in 1996 where he got his feet wet working on Microsoft Train Simulator. In 2005, he left for Epic Games to participate in the development of the Gears of War series. He left Epic for a brief time in 2012 to help Irrational Games finish up BioShock Infinite but when Microsoft bought the Gears franchise from Epic in 2014, they also hired Fergusson to return and oversee the franchise at their studio, The Coalition.

Blizzard unveiled the highly anticipated Diablo IV at its annual BlizzCon convention late last year. The game appears to be taking on a darker overall tone from what we’ve seen thus far but with Fergusson now at the helm, it’s anyone’s guess as to what the final product will look like.

Blizzard hasn’t yet announced a release date for Diablo IV although some believe it could land as soon as 2021. Whenever it does, we do know that it’ll be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC. Could a PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X launch also be in the cards?

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/83901-gears-war-studio-head-rod-fergusson-taking-over.html

 

[bviktor]

I'd much more appreciate a D2 HD remake.

 

[winjer]

I'd much more appreciate a D2 HD remake.

Be carefull with what you ask for. You might just get another Warcraft Reforged.

The Blizzard we used to love is dead. Now it's just another branch of Activision.

 

[kevbev89]

Be carefull with what you ask for. You might just get another Warcraft Reforged.

The Blizzard we used to love is dead. Now it's just another branch of Activision.

I agree with winjer, what was good back in the day doesn't mean it'll be good now... even if the graphics are upgraded.

 

[Adi6293]

I'd much more appreciate a D2 HD remake.

Have you tried that Median XL Mod? Look it up on YouTube, I'm going to give it a shot once I'm done playing with my Druid and Mage : - )

 

[Mr Majestyk]

So Diablo will become a linear rail shooter. Gears is so 1 dimensional it's a joke. Craptavision has destroyed Blizzard, hard to be positive about D4.

 

[TorturedChaos]

Have you tried that Median XL Mod? Look it up on YouTube, I'm going to give it a shot once I'm done playing with my Druid and Mage : - )

That looks really interesting! Going to have to give it a try. Spent WAYYY to many hours in my teen years playing D2

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Will it go in a new direction? No. Because until you excise Blizzard from activision and sack all of the upper and middle management, Reforged Hong Kong level garbage will continue to occur.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

So Diablo will become a linear rail shooter. Gears is so 1 dimensional it's a joke. Craptavision has destroyed Blizzard, hard to be positive about D4.

I can tell you haven't played Gears 5, which was far from a rails shooter and was pretty excellent all around.

And why do people assume that devs are one trick ponies? One of the lead producers from Apex Legends left Respawn to join Sony Santa Monica. Does that mean the next God of War game will be a first-person battle-royale shooter? Of course not.

 

[samfisher]

I'd much more appreciate a D2 HD remake.

Even after the crap show that is W3 Reforged? Please no.

 

[Adi6293]

That looks really interesting! Going to have to give it a try. Spent WAYYY to many hours in my teen years playing D2

Who didn't? And I'm doing it again, honesty no other game comes close to Diablo II IMO, I've tried so many ARPG's and I always go back to Diablo II even after 17 years ; - P