Christopher Vincent Metzen is a well-known American game designer, artist, voice actor, as well as an author known for creating award-winning fictional worlds and scripts for Blizzard Entertainment’s three major media franchises: Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft.
On many occasions, Metzen sometimes publishes his work under the pen name “Thunder God.” Blizzard Entertainment hired Metzen as an animator and artist. His first job with the company was on the video game Justice League Task Force.
Before Christopher became famous, he was then hired by Blizzard Entertainment to work as an animator on the video game Justice League Task Force.
Who is Chris Metzen?
Joining Blizzard Entertainment in 1993, Chris Metzen quickly became a core part of the team working on Warcraft. He began his Warcraft career with Warcraft: Orcs and Humans by doing artwork, illustrations, and the game’s documentation.
Quickly noticing Metzen’s value as a member of the Warcraft team, with Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, he was able to contribute more to the game by developing the Warcraft universe and lore around it. With the release of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos in 2002, Metzen became the creative director, a role which he would keep until he quits.
Over the course of years, Chris Metzen was an integral part of the WoW team, working as a creative lead on the team. Although the final expansion he worked on before leaving Blizzard was Battle for Azeroth, he made a return to Shadowlands to continue to voice Thrall.
Why Did Chris Metzen Leave Blizzard?
Metzen was plagued by constant fear. As I later learned, he experienced a panic attack while filming with his wife. He felt like his lungs had stopped, but he went to see a doctor who found out there was nothing wrong with him.
It was the beginning of his 2016, and with World of Warcraft’s Legion, Overwatch, that animated short, a Blizzard movie, and a baby on the way, Metzen was under pressure to do it all.
“I need to change my life,” Metzen said. Blizzard was also his family, but he chose to leave and support his real family. In recent months, he reflected on his time at Blizzard. He says free time is good for him.
Metzen retired from Blizzard in 2016 after 23 years as senior vice president of story and franchise development, leaving the company to be with his family. He first joined the studio during the development of his 1994 Justice League Task Force.
“Chris happens to be one of the earliest team members working on the Warcraft universe when it began in the year 1994, and we are thrilled to reunite him with the world he helped create,” said Hite.
Height said Metzen’s main focus is World of Warcraft, and that eventually he plans to branch out into other areas of the series.
What Did Chris Metzen Do at Blizzard?
Before he retired from Blizzard in 2016, Metzen worked on every Warcraft game, helping to build the story and lore. He eventually became Blizzard’s senior vice president of story and franchise development and was involved in all of the studio’s projects (he voices Bastion in Overwatch 2 , for instance).
Chris Metzen is Credited on Many Games
Outside of Blizzard Entertainment, Metzen wrote a series of graphic novels set in the future during the Second American Civil War.
1. Diablo IV (2023, Windows) Blizzard Development Family
2. WarCraft III: Reforged (2020, Windows) Blizzard Development Family
3. World of WarCraft: Battle for Azeroth (2018, Windows) Voice-Over Cast
4. StarCraft: Remastered (2017, Windows) Special Thanks
5. StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops: Mission Pack 3 (2016, Windows) Senior Vice President, Story & Franchise Development
6. World of WarCraft: Legion (2016, Windows) World and Story Development
7. Overwatch (2016, Windows) Creative Director
8. Fat Princess: Adventures (2015, PlayStation 4) Beta Test Crew
9. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void (2015, Windows) Story Directors
10. Heroes of the Storm (2015, Windows) Senior Vice President of Story & Franchise Development
11. World of WarCraft: Warlords of Draenor (2014, Windows) World and Story Development
12. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls: The Ultimate Evil Edition (2014, PlayStation 4) Story Development
13. Diablo III: Reaper of Souls (2014, Windows) Story Development
14. Hearthstone: Heroes of WarCraft (2014, Windows) Senior Vice President, Story & Franchise Development
15. StarCraft II: The Heart of the Swarm (2013, Windows) Story Director
16. World of WarCraft: Mists of Pandaria (2012, Windows) Creative Director
17. Diablo III (2012, Macintosh) Story Director
18. World of WarCraft: Cataclysm (2010, Windows) Creative Director
19. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty (2010, Windows) Story Director
20. World of WarCraft: The Wrath of the Lich King (2008, Windows) Creative Director
Metzen currently serves as Vice President of Creative Development at Blizzard Entertainment and has supported the company’s projects by contributing to artistic character designs as well as providing voice acting talent for numerous characters.
