New Blizzard North team lead announced

Blizzard has announced that lead programmer Rick Seis will take the position of development team lead for Blizzard North. In his new role, Seis will lead Blizzard North's team of developers, which will be streamlined into one core group to focus their efforts on one key project. The details of the studio's next project will be announced at a future time.

"Rick was the natural choice to take over the reins as development team lead for Blizzard North," said Mike Morhaime, Blizzard Entertainment president and cofounder. "He has been a driving force from day one, and because of his history with us and his experience as a lead programmer on the Diablo series, we feel he's the right person to build on the successes of Blizzard North and to help shape the team's future direction."

This move follows the recent resignations of Blizzard North's three founders and Bill Roper. Seis joined Blizzard North in 1994 as one of its first employees, at a time before Blizzard had acquired the studio and when it was known as Condor. He was senior programmer on Diablo, lead programmer on Diablo II, and the company's director of technology.