Lead Writer Michael Chu leaving Blizzard

Kaedi-11739 · March 11, 2020, 9:06pm

Today seems to be the day for a lot of news…

When I first walked through the doors of Blizzard Entertainment twenty years ago, my only dream was to help make the games I had spent countless hours of my life playing. From the battles between the races of Azeroth in Warcraft to the corruption of humanity as pawns of the Eternal Conflict in Diablo, I was lucky enough to tell stories in these amazing universes and help bring them to life. And I have had the great fortune to get to know and interact with the passionate global community that played our games.

These meetings, travels, and a desire to embrace the diversity of our world made it clear that there were different stories that needed to be told about places and people not traditionally seen in games. As an Asian American, I wanted to experience narratives that represented people like me and to see them depicted as heroes. Overwatch offered an opportunity to bring a more inclusive vision of earth to life: a future worth fighting for. Together, we worked, struggled, and shed tears to champion a universe that featured people from across the world, to bring to life the wondrous sights of earth’s past, present, and future, and to empower the contributions of creators and voices who would better represent the breadth of human experience. I believed that a game could show the power of diversity and that one kiss could change the world, if only a little.

Overwatch has been a life-changing experience. I have always felt that games and the stories they tell have the unique ability to bring people closer together, and that the empathy you feel from stepping into someone else’s shoes, even virtually, can bridge the gap between miles, cultures, and nations. Overwatch and its consistently generous and inspiring community have only reinforced that belief. I’ve heard stories of people learning a new language after hearing a line of dialogue, people feeling inspired to take a trip to a new place after ”visiting” it in-game, and people meeting teammates across languages and borders to take up the cause of making our world a better place. But most of all: again and again, of people empathizing with a story about someone who is not the same as them.

Now, as I head out through the Blizzard doors for a last time, I have new dreams: to continue to tell these stories and build worlds that unite people through games. To help create an inclusive world where more people will want to share stories that reflect their own experiences. I hope it’s something we can build together.

That’s the future that I believe in.

Please keep discussion civil everyone, thanks. To my knowledge, Alyssa Wong still works as a writer for the Overwatch Team.

GhengisJohn-1238 · March 11, 2020, 9:08pm

Now, as I head out through the Blizzard doors for a last time, I have new dreams: to continue to tell these stories and build worlds that unite people through games.

So where’s he going? Anybody know? Seems like he had a pretty sweet job at Blizzard, I can only speak from the outside but the release rate of lore seems like he must have been able to keep a pretty chill schedule. Makes me wonder why he’d leave.

Ey good luck to him wherever he’s going.

I worry though that part of him will regret this. Like he will be doing his dishes one morning, staring into his sink and he’ll think “Oh no! I forgot to make sure everyone knew that Zenyatta likes his cornflakes a little bit soggy…”

He’ll be like “No, it’s too late for that… or is it?” Reaching for his phone he calls Blizzard’s campus and as a former VIP gets transferred to the office of Alyssa Wong. “Hello Alyssa?” He’ll say, “I was just thinking… It’s about Zenyatta. Could you make sure that everybody knows that he likes his cornflakes a little soggy?”

“I’m sorry Michael, I can’t do that” She’ll say. Suddenly, his world spinning, Chu will ask “But why?” And Alyssa will tell him the cold hard truth: “Zenyatta… is into grape nuts. That’s what I imagine.”

Of course. It makes so much sense. Zenyatta’s metal mouth wouldn’t care that eating grapenuts are like chewing gravel. Disposing of every box he finds would be a public service. That totally suits him…

And it’s at this point that Michael Chu drops the phone.

Drowsckab-1655 · March 11, 2020, 9:08pm

Oh dear… I guess we’ll never get to see the lore he had been working on for 3 years.

Naz-11562 · March 11, 2020, 9:09pm

does that mean there’s room for Darth Winston, writer extraordinaire, in Blizzard?

GaiaFirebird-1840 · March 11, 2020, 9:09pm

He probably got tired of getting no work.

In all seriousness, I wish Mr. Chu the best on his future endeavors.

Also, Blizzard, please hire me to do lore and write for the setting. I would do it for free and can provide samples of my work that leave no doubts about the quality meeting and exceeding expectations.

Please and thank you.

…

Blizz plz

Kaedi-11739 · March 11, 2020, 9:10pm

There was a writing position for Overwatch on the career boards a couple of weeks ago, but I think it is now filled.

Naz-11562 · March 11, 2020, 9:10pm

it’s fine I don’t have a master’s degree so I’m Not Allowed

Kaedi-11739 · March 11, 2020, 9:12pm

Well, I don’t know too much about writing positions, but many positions typically require experience and usually just a Bachelor’s Degree, but most importantly a passion for games.

I myself have had a close chance to joining Blizzard but the timing is just not right yet.

tornado7909-1821 · March 11, 2020, 9:12pm

that makes me wonder how ow2 pve stuff will go…

GaiaFirebird-1840 · March 11, 2020, 9:12pm

Maaaaaan. Too bad I missed out on that. I’d have sent them samples with or without the degree. I’ve got some stuff that I guarantee would get a look.

Sigh.

Kaedi-11739 · March 11, 2020, 9:13pm

Keep this page bookmarked and check it at least once a week:

Naz-11562 · March 11, 2020, 9:13pm

Man maybe I should have sent the WoW team my dialogue tree between Sylvanas and Thrall it was kinda baller…

GaiaFirebird-1840 · March 11, 2020, 9:13pm

Thank’ee kindly, kind sir.

Skund-2376 · March 11, 2020, 9:13pm

Blizzard had a lot of negative press when it comes to wage.
Wouldn’t be surprise if he got a better paid position after his work on OW2 is done

He is a great writer, sad to see him leave. I wish him the best

DoctorSix-11373 · March 11, 2020, 9:14pm

We’ll see it in OW2 - I bet most of the story missions have already been written.

JonStriker-11942 · March 11, 2020, 9:14pm

Well, this sucks to hear. He seemed like a pretty good guy. And, like it or not, I know he had a lot to do with the lore that we do have for this game.

Honestly, it will be sad to see him go, But I wish him the best in his future endeavors.

Well, that’s good to hear, at least.

Widowmaker-24293 · March 11, 2020, 9:14pm

Can’t say i blame him, 20 years at Blizzard is … damn… i dunno if it’s possible to really describe without going bald or something.

Doomfish-21368 · March 11, 2020, 9:15pm

Wonder what he means by new adventures…

Kaedi-11739 · March 11, 2020, 9:16pm

I won’t deny that any major video game company doesn’t have bad press (including Blizzard), but as someone who has relationships with many of their team members, I can say that it is still a worthy goal to pursue a career with Blizzard if you can.

My experience as a forum MVP and playing Overwatch pushes me to pursue my own dreams. Which is why I returned to college a few years ago and I am coming very close to getting my degree in graphic design. It is my hope to find a position with a great video game company (not just Blizzard) and contribute to a passion that I have cared about for years.

Pachanga-1668 · March 11, 2020, 9:16pm

Oh crap… There goes all the lore we didn’t get in the past few years…