A monumental shift is happening at Blizzard, a studio revered in the gaming industry since the 90s, as it bids farewell to a key figure. Samwise Didier, the studio’s Art Director, who has profoundly influenced the aesthetic of its games, announces his departure after a remarkable 32-year tenure. Known for his love of pandas and grandiose shoulder armors, Didier leaves a lasting legacy in the Warcraft universe and beyond.

In a move that signifies a changing of the guard for one of the gaming industry’s legendary studios, Samwise Didier, who has significantly shaped the visual direction of Blizzard’s titles, is departing after 32 years. Announcing his retirement from the team in a statement shared on X, Didier, Blizzard’s Art Director, joined the company back in 1991 when it was founded as Silicon & Synapse. He described Blizzard as not just a workplace, but a second home where he learned everything from computer use (having only owned consoles before) to mastering Photoshop, texture creation, and animation. His farewell message to the studio was characteristic:

“Always draw big shoulder armors!”

Didier was instrumental in defining the visual identity of Blizzard’s games, having worked on every title from The Lost Vikings and Blackthorne to Starcraft II. In newer games like Overwatch and Diablo IV, he is credited as part of the Blizzard Developer Family. Didier’s penchant for pandas played a significant role in their introduction into the Warcraft world. He was also the frontman for Blizzard’s own band, Level 60 Elite Tauren Chieftain, often performing at BlizzCon.

Blizzard President Mike Ybarra also paid tribute to Didier, noting his substantial contributions to Blizzard’s unique artistic style and his impact on not just the company’s artists, but the entire gaming industry and its players.

Recently, Blizzard has been feeling the end of an era, especially after its acquisition by Microsoft along with Activision. At the recent BlizzCon, they announced several new developments, including new expansions for World of Warcraft, Cataclysm Classic, and the first expansion for Diablo IV.