A former Blizzard employee with over a decades' worth of experience working on World of Warcraft has explained his reasons for leaving the company, citing his unhappiness with the "state of the game" ahead of the game's latest expansion, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands.
In a recent 15-minute video Chris Kaleiki uploaded to his YouTube account, entitled "Why I Left Blizzard," the game designer detailed his decision after having worked there for so long, despite his long association with, and passion for, World of Warcraft. In the direct-to-camera discussion, Keleiki confessed he had been feeling unhappy with the overall state of the game and its direction for a long time.
He explained how the addition of World of Warcraft Classic only highlighted the differences between what the game is and what he believes it should and could be, pointing to the importance of guilds and how they can be used to build communities.
Kaleiki argued how, in World of Warcraft Classic, the guild is a "big deal." He noted how, "To do anything at endgame you really need to be in a guild" and that this necessity helped to create "interdependence" among World of Warcraft gamers. This dependency generated a bond where players needed each other to be successful. Although he conceded this approach can "feel really restrictive," Kaleiki believes it actually helped develop cohesion amongst strangers, ultimately providing a special community aspect to the gaming experience.
He shared how the lack of emphasis on guilds has led to a loss of connection between gamers, noting that World of Warcraft's focus is no longer on the player's coming together. Instead, he believes that the game's direction is now focused on providing a more solitary, solo experience for those who only want the story and don't want to deal with guild dynamics and the potential drama it can bring.
Although he acknowledged how World of Warcraft has always had layered narratives for players to sink their teeth into, he stressed how, "lately I think in the modern game the story is just a bigger part of it." According to Kaleiki, the characters "really soak up a lot of air in the game." He argued that in the virtual world of an MMO, the emphasis should instead be placed on the players and their experience as they "are the story."
Kaleiki believes that a return to the core experience of what made World of Warcraft so special is what gamers want. He highlighted how his feelings on the subject are intrinsically tied to "what the modern game is and what the game used to be," which eventually brought him to the decision to depart Blizzard.
Kaleiki worked for Blizzard for 13 years. His tenure with the company saw him help develop several aspects within World of Warcraft's experience, including PvP, class design, and the Ashran zone. His input and contributions to World of Warcraft were recognized and honored by Blizzard, who named two characters and an item after him, ensuring that even though he has now departed the company, his name and legacy live on within the game.
World of Warcraft is available on PC. Its latest expansion, World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, will release on November 23rd.