Diablo 4’s Lead Class Designer Departs Blizzard After 15-Year Tenure

Adam Jackson, Lead Class Designer for Diablo 4, has announced his departure from Blizzard Entertainment, concluding a 15-year career with the gaming studio. The announcement came via social media on January 29, 2025, as the game’s seventh season launched.

Jackson shared his decision through Twitter, describing his time at Blizzard as “a long, strange trip” with a “bittersweet” conclusion. “After 15 years at Blizzard Entertainment it’s finally time to say goodbye. I have so many great memories here. It’s incredibly bittersweet to close this door, but I’m excited for the future and can’t wait to get started on my next adventure,” Jackson wrote in his farewell message.

Throughout his tenure, Jackson became a prominent figure in the Diablo community, regularly participating in the game’s Campfire Chats livestreams. These sessions provided players with insights into mechanical and balancing changes between seasons, establishing direct communication between the development team and the player base.

The timing of Jackson’s departure coincides with Diablo 4’s Season of the Witchcraft launch, which introduced new questlines centered on the Witches of Hawezar. While Jackson has not disclosed his next career move, his statement suggests imminent involvement in a new project.

Questions remain about the future direction of Diablo 4’s class design and balance. The position of Lead Class Designer holds particular significance as Blizzard continues to expand the game’s character roster, most recently with the Spiritborn class in the Vessel of Hatred expansion. The studio has not yet announced Jackson’s successor.