:Chris Metzen

{{Infobox person

| name = Chris Metzen

| image = Blizzcon 2009 31.jpg

| image_upright = 0.9

| caption = Metzen at the 2009 BlizzCon

| birth_name = Christopher Vincent Metzen

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|11|22}}

| birth_place =

| occupation = {{Flatlist|

Game designer
artist
author
voice actor

}}

| employer = Warchief Gaming
Blizzard Entertainment

| spouse = {{Marriage|Kat Hunter|April 21, 2013}}

| children = 3

| title = Executive Creative Director

| website =

| years_active = 1993–2016
2022–present

}}

Christopher Vincent Metzen (born November 22, 1973){{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E5DC163AF933A25751C0A9639C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3|title=The Game Is a Hit, But the Work Isn't Done|work=The New York Times|first=Seth|last=Schiesel|date=February 10, 2005|access-date=September 12, 2008}} is an American game designer, artist, voice actor, and author known for his work creating the fictional universes and scripts for Blizzard Entertainment's three major award-winning media franchises: Warcraft, Diablo and StarCraft. Metzen was hired by Blizzard Entertainment as an animator and an artist, his first work for the company was with the video game Justice League Task Force.{{cite web | url = http://cecilvortex.com/swath/2008/04/21/an_interview_with_chris_metzen_part_one.html | title = An Interview with Chris Metzen | first = Cecil | last = Vortex | date = April 21, 2008 | access-date = July 21, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080706140304/http://www.cecilvortex.com/swath/2008/04/21/an_interview_with_chris_metzen_part_one.html | archive-date = July 6, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}

Metzen was the Senior Vice President of Story and Franchise Development at Blizzard Entertainment and assisted the company's projects by providing voice talent for a number of characters, most notably the orc character Thrall, as well as contributing to artistic character design. Metzen retired in September 2016 to spend more time with his family, but returned to the company as a creative advisor in December 2022. He was made the executive creative director of Warcraft in September 2023.{{Cite web |last=Gerblick |first=Jordan |date=2023-09-26 |title=Blizzard puts original WoW director Chris Metzen back in the saddle to lead Warcraft's "next generation of adventures" |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/blizzard-puts-original-wow-director-chris-metzen-back-in-the-saddle-to-lead-warcrafts-next-generation-of-adventures/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=gamesradar |language=en}}

In his most recent work, Metzen co-authored graphic novels, Transformers: Autocracy and Transformers Monstrosity with author Flint Dille and artist Livio Ramondelli.{{cite web |url=http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/sdcc-2012-coverage-idw-announces-transformers-monstrosity/25355/ |title=SDCC 2012 Coverage: IDW announces Transformers MONSTROSITY |website=Seibertron |date=July 14, 2012}}

Career

Metzen began his career in design after applying to Blizzard Entertainment, then known as Chaos Studios, on the recommendation of a friend impressed by his napkin doodle of a dragon.{{Cite book |last=Schreier |first=Jason |title=Play Nice |date=October 2024 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |isbn=9781538725429 |location=New York City |pages=26}} He was quickly recruited by the company, although Metzen states that at the time he did not really know what Blizzard Entertainment dealt with, assuming it was a graphic design studio rather than a video game developer.

Metzen's first work for the company was with the game Justice League Task Force, in which he provided artwork and character animation. Around the same time, Metzen also contributed to 1994's Warcraft: Orcs and Humans by working on artwork, illustrations and the game's documentation.{{cite web | url = http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:940~T3 | title = Warcraft: Orcs and Humans credits | publisher = Allgame | access-date = July 28, 2008 | archive-date = August 27, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190827102826/http://www.allgame.com/splash.php | url-status = dead }} Later video games by Blizzard Entertainment would frequently include Metzen's work in manual design, illustration and concept art. However, Metzen's role in developing later Warcraft games increased significantly with 1995's Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, which gave him the opportunity to work on the game's fantasy-based fictional universe in addition to designing the game's various scenarios and missions.{{cite book | author = Underwood, Peter | chapter = Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness Credits | title = Warcraft II Battle.net Edition (manual)| publisher = Blizzard Entertainment | year = 1999 | page = 94}}

In 1996, Blizzard Entertainment launched its second major franchise with the role-playing game Diablo. Diablo{{'}}s fictional universe was created by David Brevik, Metzen and fellow designer Bill Roper, and Metzen also provided voice acting for some of the game's characters.{{cite web | url = http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:774~T3 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120630221942/http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:774~T3 | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 30, 2012 | title = Diablo credits | publisher = Allgame | access-date = July 28, 2008 }} On occasion, Metzen would provide voice talent for later video games. In 1998 he took the role of lead designer on the science fiction strategy game StarCraft. Along with James Phinney, Metzen again provided the game's extensive story and script, as well as organizing the voice casting for the game.{{cite book | chapter = Credits | author = Underwood, Peter |author2=Roper, Bill |author3=Metzen, Chris |author4=Vaughn, Jeffrey | title = StarCraft (manual)| publisher = Blizzard Entertainment |date = April 1, 1998 | page = 90}} In 1999, Metzen wrote a short story set in the StarCraft universe with fellow Blizzard Entertainment employee Sam Moore. The story, entitled Revelations, was published in the spring issue of Amazing Stories with cover artwork by Samwise Didier.{{cite web | title = StarCraft is an Amazing Story| publisher = IGN |date = March 23, 1999| url = http://pc.ign.com/articles/067/067452p1.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020221021220/http://pc.ign.com/articles/067/067452p1.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = February 21, 2002| access-date = August 26, 2008}} Returning to the Diablo series in 2000 with Diablo II, Metzen worked on the game's story, script and artwork.{{cite web | url = http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:11677~T3 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120630221846/http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:11677~T3 | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 30, 2012 | title = Diablo II credits | publisher = Allgame | access-date = July 28, 2008 }} In 2001, he published a novel set in the Warcraft universe, entitled Of Blood and Honor.{{cite web | url = http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=31&pid=479860&er=9780743418973 | title = Warcraft: Of Blood and Honor (eBook) | publisher = Simon & Schuster | access-date = July 28, 2008}}

With 2002's Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Metzen was the creative director, a role he would hold in all of Blizzard's later video games, and provided the game's story concept and script.{{cite book | chapter = Credits | title = Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (manual) | url = https://archive.org/details/warcraftiiireign00bliz | url-access = registration | publisher = Blizzard Entertainment | year = 2003 | page = [https://archive.org/details/warcraftiiireign00bliz/page/90 90]}} Metzen's work with 2004's massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft was not as extensive as his earlier work, but he still contributed with script writing, artwork and voice work.{{cite web | url = http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:36669~T3 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120716213434/http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:36669~T3 | url-status = dead | archive-date = July 16, 2012 | title = World of Warcraft credits | publisher = Allgame | access-date = July 28, 2008 }}

Metzen announced in early 2005 that he was working on a graphic novel series independent of Blizzard Entertainment. The series, entitled Soldier: 76, is set in a second American civil war in 2010, with increased domestic and global terror threats and the increase in power for the US federal government over that of local state governments serving as a background. Metzen wrote the series' script, while Brazilian artist Max Velati was responsible for the illustration and painting of the book.{{cite web | url = http://www.sonsofthestorm.com/report_soldier76.html | publisher = Sons of the Storm | title = Battle Reports: Soldier: 76 | first = Chris | last = Metzen | date = February 15, 2005 | access-date = July 22, 2008}} Soldier: 76 would later appear as a character in Overwatch, Blizzard's online first-person shooter game, released in May 2016.{{Cite web | url = http://kotaku.com/one-overwatch-character-has-been-around-for-more-than-a-1773669625 | title = One Overwatch Character Has Been Around For More Than A Decade | first = Nathan | last= Grayson | date = April 28, 2016 | access-date = May 24, 2017 | work = Kotaku }}{{Cite web | url = http://www.cbr.com/warcraft-diablo-creator-joins-digital-webbing-presents-16/ | title = Warcraft, Diablo Creator Joins "Digital Webbing Presents" #16 | date = July 7, 2004 | access-date = May 24, 2017 | work = Comic Book Resources }}

Chris Metzen teamed with author Flint Dille and artist Livio Ramondelli to create the 12-part, bi-weekly digital comic series Transformers: Autocracy. Autocracy was published by IDW Publishing in 2012. The series focused on the days just before the Great War. It is set after Megatron Origin, and presents the Decepticons as an established force, sowing dissent across Cybertron primarily through terrorist actions. The series focuses on Orion Pax, an Autobot commander charged with rooting out these cells. Transformers: Autocracy was released as a collected Trade Paperback in July 2012 with a bonus foreword authored by Metzen. Autocracy was followed by Transformers: Monstrosity in 2013{{cite web |url=https://www.seibertron.com/comics/issue/the-transformers-monstrosity-1/1238/ |title=Derelicts |website=Seibertron |access-date=2017-11-01}} and Transformers: Primacy in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.seibertron.com/comics/issue/the-transformers-primacy-1/1291/ |title=Primacy #1 |website=Seibertron |access-date=2017-11-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/revisitocracy-a-seibertron-retrospective-on-idw-publishing-autocracy-monstrosity-primacy/37485/ |title=Revisitocracy – A Seibertron.com Retrospective on IDW Publishing Autocracy, Monstrosity, Primacy |website=Seibertron |date=March 1, 2017 |access-date=2017-11-01}}

Metzen made a cameo appearance in the 2016 Warcraft film, as a turbaned perfume vendor in Stormwind.[http://www.wowhead.com/news=253264 Chris Metzen on Warcraft Set, Demon Hunter Armor in Dressing Room, Kinndy Sparkshine in Legion – Wowhead News] On September 12, 2016, Metzen announced that he was retiring from Blizzard Entertainment after nearly twenty-three years with the company.{{cite web | url = http://us.battle.net/forums/en/wow/topic/20749157269#post-1 | title = Retirement Announcement | access-date = September 12, 2016}} In November 2018, Metzen made an appearance at Blizzcon 2018 in the World of Warcraft Q&A line, where he inquired about the return of the Horde's "true Warchief". Afrasiabi responded that if a fictional job board opening were to be posted needing a Warchief, that he (Afrasiabi) would give Metzen a call.{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwYukrsx1k8 | title = Chris Metzen at Blizzcon 2018 World of Warcraft Q&A | website = YouTube | access-date = November 3, 2018}} He returned to the role of Thrall for the "Safe Haven" cinematic, released in May 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umAgdVTBae0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/umAgdVTBae0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Cinematic: "Safe Haven"|website=YouTube |date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2019}}{{cbignore}} and voiced Thrall in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/2/18527121/world-of-warcraft-8-2-rise-of-azshara-baine-jaina-thrall-saurfang|title=Important World of Warcraft character returns in patch 8.2|website=Polygon|date=May 2, 2019|access-date=June 6, 2019}} Metzen voiced the Dragon-King Avizandum in the third season of the Netflix's animated series The Dragon Prince.{{cite web|url=https://blizzardwatch.com/2019/10/10/chris-metzen-prince-season-3/|title=Chris Metzen is playing Thunder in Dragon Prince season 3, which seems pretty appropriate|website=Blizzard Watch|date=Oct 10, 2019|access-date=November 30, 2019}} He reprised his role as Thrall once again in World of Warcraft: Shadowlands. Blizzard announced Metzen's return to the company in December 2022, as a creative advisor for the Warcraft franchise. His focus at Blizzard is planned to expand to other properties in the future.{{cite web|last=Marshall|first=Cass|url=https://www.polygon.com/23511393/world-of-warcraft-chris-metzen-creative-advisor-blizzard|title=Warcraft veteran Chris Metzen returns to Blizzard to help with WoW|website=Polygon|date=December 15, 2022|access-date=December 15, 2022}} In September 2023 it was announced on the Warcraft Facebook page that Chris Metzen has transitioned into the role of Executive Creative Director of the Warcraft universe.

Personal life and artistic influences

He first started creating comics at the age of twelve, but he held an interest in drawing since at least six. A fan of Dungeons & Dragons, Metzen cites the Dragonlance series of novels and Star Wars as the primary inspirations for his fantasy and science fiction creations, and names fantasy and comic book artists such as Walt Simonson and Keith Parkinson as his artistic inspirations.{{cite web | url = http://www.sonsofthestorm.com/profile_metzen.html | title = Artist profile: Chris Metzen | publisher = Sons of the Storm | access-date = July 21, 2008}}

He defines his artistic style as having been "heavily influenced by Walt Simonson's and Jim Lee's pencilling styles for form" while preferring the "costuming, themes and general feel of Larry Elmore and Keith Parkinson's fantasy paintings".

Voice over roles

=Video games=

Diablo – Leoric
StarCraft – Marine, Battlecruiser, Ghost
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos – Thrall
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne – Thrall, Vol'jin
World of Warcraft – Thrall, Vol'jin, Orcs, Archaedas, Ragnaros, Nefarian, Vaelastrasz the Corrupt, Bloodlord Mandokir, Hakkar the Soulflayer, Jin'do the Hexxer
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade – Thrall, Zul'jin
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – Thrall, Vol'jin, Varian Wrynn, Dranosh Saurfang
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty – Marine, Battlecruiser, Tauren Marine
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm – Thrall, Vol'jin, Varian Wrynn, Ragnaros, Nefarian, Bloodlord Mandokir, Jin'do the Godbreaker, Hakkar the Soulflayer
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria – Thrall, Arcanital Mara'kah, Captain Halu'kal, Nalak the Storm Lord, War-God Jalak
Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm – Marine, Battlecruiser
Hearthstone – Thrall, Various minions
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor – Thrall, Varian Wrynn, Supreme Lord Kazzak
Heroes of the Storm – Thrall, Varian Wrynn, Imperius
StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void – Marine, Battlecruiser
World of Warcraft: Legion – Thrall, Varian Wrynn, Beliash, Duke Hydraxis
Overwatch – Bastion
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth – Thrall
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands – Thrall, Hakkar the Soulflayer, Varian Wrynn
Warcraft III: Reforged – Thrall, Vol'jin
Overwatch 2 – Bastion
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight – Thrall, Archaedas
World of Warcraft: The War Within – Thrall, Archaedas