Ahead of the launch of Overwatch 2, the lead hero designer for a lot of the sport’s new playable characters, Geoff Goodman, is leaving Blizzard. Goodman acted as lead hero designer for most of the playable characters within the unique Overwatch as nicely.

Regarding Overwatch 2, Goodman helped design Sojourn and Junker Queen. It’s probably he performed an element in designing the not too long ago introduced Kiriko as nicely, however that has not been formally confirmed.

A Blizzard spokesperson instructed PC Gamer that Goodman made the choice to depart Blizzard “earlier this 12 months,” earlier than offering the outlet with the next assertion:

“We thank [Goodman] for his a few years of service at Blizzard and need him all the very best. His potential to carry to life Overwatch’s numerous hero roster by way of gameplay has been unbelievable, and the mark he is left on the Warcraft and Overwatch groups will likely be felt for years to come back.”

PC Gamer’s report doesn’t listing a purpose for Goodman’s departure. That stated, there was a sample of high-profile Overwatch builders leaving Blizzard over the previous 12 months, together with director Jeff Kaplan in April 2021, lead character artist Renaud Galand in May 2021, government producer Chacko Sonny in September 2021, and producer Tracy Kennedy in February 2022.

Many of those departures occurred after July 2021, when California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing filed a lawsuit towards Activision Blizzard over claims of equal pay violations, intercourse discrimination, and sexual harassment.