Overwatch 2 designer Geoff Goodman has left Activision Blizzard.
According to PC Gamer, Goodman was the lead hero designer behind many of Overwatch’s most popular characters, but “made the decision to leave Blizzard earlier this year”.
“We thank Geoff for his many years of service at Blizzard and wish him all the best,” the company said in a statement to PC Gamer. “His ability to bring to life Overwatch’s diverse hero roster through gameplay has been incredible, and the mark he’s left on the Warcraft and Overwatch teams will be felt for years to come.”
Goodman’s involvement with Overwatch goes back to the very beginning. He was on board back when it was Blizzard’s project Titan – an MMO that was eventually turned into the Overwatch we know today.
When it comes to Overwatch, he helped rework Doomfist and Orisa as well as design new heroes, Sojourn and the Junker Queen. He also likely helped design many of the heroes in the upcoming sequel, Overwatch 2.
No reason was given for Goodman’s departure, but his exit comes in the wake of numerous high-profile exits following Blizzard’s harassment and discrimination lawsuit. Given the company’s shake-ups already, this is bound to come as a blow.
Especially since Overwatch 2 is less than a month from launch on October 4, 2022.
Of course, much of Goodman’s work on the sequel will have been carried out already, with hero designs for Overwatch’s newcomers well in place. But as a live service game, it’s going to need plenty of new heroes in the coming months and years… and losing Goodman isn’t ideal.
When it comes to Overwatch 2 heroes, the new battle pass system will see new heroes added to the game’s battle pass – becoming unlockable at the free level 50 tier.
“While Overwatch 2 heroes will each have their own clear strengths and weakness, and some heroes will be more effective against others, we believe our game plays better and is more fun with fewer hard counters and a broader range of effective hero picks,” said Blizzard in a statement.
Whether or not this works out, remains to be seen. But it looks as though Blizzard will need to find a new lead hero designer sooner rather than later.
Want to read more about Overwatch 2? Check out why Overwatch 2 is putting new characters in its battle pass and find out how cross-progression and account merging will work.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.