The gaming industry is witnessing a significant transition as Walter Kong, the general manager for Overwatch, embarks on a new journey within Blizzard Entertainment. In a recent LinkedIn announcement, Kong revealed his elevation to the role of senior vice president and head of development for live games and mobile platforms.
Career Journey
Kong’s relationship with Blizzard is marked by a rich history that began in 2011 when he joined as senior director for strategic initiatives. His tenure spanned nearly seven years, during which he contributed to various projects and initiatives that shaped the company’s trajectory. In 2018, he ventured to Epic Games, where he took on the role of head of product management, analytics, and business operations. However, his passion for Blizzard brought him back in 2020 as an executive producer, leading to his recent promotion to general manager for Overwatch.
In his new capacity, Kong will not only continue to steer the strategic direction of Overwatch but will also extend his expertise to other beloved titles within the Blizzard portfolio, including Hearthstone, Diablo Immortal, and Warcraft Rumble. It is worth noting that while Kong will oversee these projects, Blizzard has ceased developing new content for Warcraft Rumble and has made significant staff reductions in that area.
Reflecting on his journey, Kong expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunities he has had at Blizzard. “When I first walked onto the Blizzard campus as an employee in August 2011, I felt awestruck for most of my first day. It was hard to believe that I had a job working for Blizzard,” he shared. “Even after fourteen years, I still have to occasionally pinch myself. I’m honoured and grateful that I’ve been presented opportunities over those years to collaborate with talented colleagues and to make an impact at a company I so love and admire.”
As he steps into this new role, Kong is enthusiastic about the prospect of working alongside talented teams across a diverse array of initiatives, both existing and new. He emphasized his commitment to nurturing an environment characterized by continuous learning, collaboration, and growth for all team members, setting a promising tone for the future of Blizzard’s live games and mobile development.
