Announced via a Facebook post from the man himself this morning, veteran Blizzard composer Russell Brower is leaving the company after today. His role as overall senior audio director and composer, which saw him lead work on every game Blizzard have put out since he started working there in 2005, has been made “redundant” by a “de-centralization initiative.”
For more of the man’s work, check our list of the best PC games of all time. Quite the pedigree.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I post this status update, but as they say, ‘all good things…’” begins Brower’s statement on Facebook. He explains that “as the company has grown, the topography of the Sound team has adjusted accordingly” leading to his role being “eliminated.”
He says it’s likely that he’ll continue to work for the company in a freelance capacity, presumably keeping his long-held influence over the soundtracks to new WoW expansions. He’s also putting a solo album together but has “a lot to figure out, so I do not have any further information to share as to what I will be doing next….yet.”
To the fans he says “I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to EVERYONE reading this: all of our Players, Music Lovers, and the countless new friends I’ve made worldwide, for the incredible and indelible life experiences I have enjoyed while at Blizzard. Especially the Players – each of you have truly enriched our lives by playing our games, meeting us at BlizzCon and Nerdtacular, attending our music concerts the world over, enjoying our soundtrack albums and sheet music – the list goes on and on.
“We have so much to be proud of and I am truly grateful to each of you and to all my Blizzard colleagues for putting up with me over the last 12 years and teaching me so much.”
Brower’s credits span most of Blizzard’s output. Here’s a few personal favourites:
We’ve reached out to Brower for details and Blizzard for comment on the composer’s departure.