Award winning composer Russell Brower leaves Blizzard

Senior audio director and composer for Blizzard, Russell Brower, is leaving the company due to a "sound de-centralization", according to a Facebook post written by Brower.

The composer is well known for his work on the World of Warcraft series and has worked on every Blizzard title since World of Warcraft expansion The Burning Crusade back in 2007. That includes Starcraft 2, Diablo 3 and Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft.

While Brower does say he wishes and hopes that he will still work with the company in a freelance capacity, the "sound de-centralization iniatitive", as he refers to it, has effectively made him redundant.

"I’m extremely proud of the amazingly talented team I helped build and the creative output we’ve accomplished together over these past 12 years," said Brower in his Facebook post. "As the company has grown, the topography of the Sound team has adjusted accordingly, and the last couple of years have been no exception. With the success of a “sound de-centralization” initiative, my current position of overall Sr. Audio Director/Composer is no longer relevant and is being eliminated.

"Today is my last day, though there is an excellent chance I will continue to contribute to Blizzard’s projects as a freelance composer. Obviously, I have a lot to figure out, so I do not have any further information to share as to what I will be doing next….yet."

Brower has won three Emmy Awards for his sound design on television animation series. His credits including Animaniacs and Batman. The composition, Invincible, from World of Warcraft: The Wrath of the Lich King, was also featured in the Classic FM Hall of Fame in 2014 and his work on Blizzard games has garnered him four awards from across the media industry.