Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo franchise, is stepping down from Blizzard after five years. Fergusson announced his departure on social media but did not reveal his next destination. Before joining Blizzard in 2020 to lead the Diablo series, he was the studio head at The Coalition, where he managed the Gears of War franchise.
In his post on Bluesky, Fergusson reflected on his time at Blizzard, stating, After five years driving the Diablo franchise with four big launches, it’s time to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what’s next. He expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments and optimism for Diablo’s future.
His exit follows recent layoffs at Microsoft, Blizzard’s parent company, which impacted its gaming division earlier this summer. The restructuring has led to several high-profile departures across Xbox and its studios.
Xbox head Phil Spencer responded to Fergusson’s announcement, praising his contributions. You brought strength, hellfire, and vision to one of gaming’s most iconic franchises, Spencer wrote. Playing Diablo IV with you was a blast—thanks for everything you gave to the game and the community.
Fergusson’s leadership saw the release of Diablo IV and other major updates to the franchise, cementing its place in the action-RPG genre. His next move remains undisclosed, but industry watchers will be keeping an eye on where he lands next.
