Blizzard's Legendary Technical Director, Monte Krol, Bids Farewell After Two Decades

After an illustrious career spanning more than 22 years, Monte Krol, the esteemed technical director at Blizzard, has announced his departure from the gaming giant. Having contributed to iconic titles like Diablo, StarCraft and Warcraft, Krol leaves behind an indelible mark on the gaming industry.

Krol's journey with Blizzard began before the 21st century when he became an avid fan of Diablo and StarCraft. Joining the company in October 2000, he steadily climbed the ranks, becoming lead software engineer in 2007 and finally taking up the mantle of technical director in 2020. Throughout his tenure, Krol made invaluable contributions to almost every major Blizzard project, from Warcraft 3 to the much-anticipated Diablo 4.

On July 21, Krol bid farewell to Blizzard, posting a poignant picture of himself beside a Jaina statue at the Blizzard campus on his personal Twitter account. In his heartfelt statement, he expressed gratitude to his former colleagues and urged them to "drink some great coffee," as he is renowned for his passion for the beverage.

Among Krol's noteworthy achievements during his time at Blizzard were designing and maintaining programs instrumental in crafting World of Warcraft, including the innovative WoWEdit tool, which enables developers to construct the game's virtual world. As technical director of Warcraft Arclight Rumble, Blizzard's upcoming tower offense mobile game, Krol led a team of engineers to create an exciting gaming experience.

Beyond his technical contributions, Krol also left his mark on the gaming world through his voice acting in Warcraft 3 and World of Warcraft, lending his talents to various iconic characters, including the iconic generic Goblin NPC known for the famous line, "Time is money, friend!" His legacy further extended to being immortalized through weapons and NPCs in World of Warcraft, with the Krol Blade being one such tribute.

Krol's farewell tweet garnered an outpouring of emotional goodbyes from friends, fans, and industry colleagues, including well-known Blizzard figures like award-winning author Christie Golden, senior narrative designer Anne Stickney, and Warcraft creative advisor Chris Metzen. While it remains unclear whether Krol is retiring or embarking on new endeavors, his journey is sure to be closely followed by his devoted fanbase.

As his final significant development project, Warcraft Arclight Rumble holds promise for Blizzard enthusiasts. The mobile game, which has been in closed beta for over a year, is yet to receive a release date or extensive media attention since its announcement last May. Fans can expect more details on Krol's capstone project during BlizzCon in November, where Blizzard is likely to unveil its launch plans.