Blizzard co-founder Frank Pearce is leaving the company after 28 years

Frank Pearce has announced his departure from Blizzard Entertainment, a company he co-founded with Allen Adham and Mike Morhaime in 1991 when it was known as Silicon & Synapse.

Pearce posted news of his retirement on the Blizzard website.

"My time at Blizzard encompasses the entirety of both my professional career and my adult life," reads the statement from Pearce. "I have countless fond memories. Working with the best developers in the world on the best franchises in the world definitively stands out.

"Even more prominent are my memories of our first BlizzCon where I realized the special importance of the people and communities that had become part of the experience for our players."

"Words cannot express the gratitude I feel to have been involved with Blizzard, our games, our employees, and most importantly our community. Before Blizzard I struggled to find a place in which I felt I belonged. Now I know I will always have a place, as will many other people. Thank you to all of you for providing me the sense of inclusion I require as a person."

As far as his future plans are concerned, for now, Pearce said he will spend  more time outdoors, learn to play an instrument, and generally "devote more time" to aspects of his  life that many not have "gotten as much attention in the past."

Pearce is the second co-founder to leave Blizzard within nine months. In October 2018, Mike Morhaime left the company.

Allen Adham is the last of the original founders left at the company. While he did leave back in 2004, he returned to Blizzard in 2016. He is now part of the company's executive leadership team.