Bill Petras, a longtime creative force behind some of Blizzard’s most iconic titles, has sadly passed away, aged 54.
The news was shared on LinkedIn by Harley D. Huggins II, a former cinematic project director at Blizzard, who remembered Petras as a deeply talented artist and a close friend.
Petras played a major role in shaping the look and feel of WoW and Overwatch, serving as an Art Director for both games during critical points in their development.
“Billy was an amazingly gifted artist,” Huggins wrote. “We started at Blizzard the same week and stayed close for 28 years. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.”
Bill’s journey with Blizzard began with the original StarCraft, where he contributed to storyboarding and cinematic design. He was later the key visual lead on WoW when it launched in 2004. Though he left Blizzard in 2005 to co-found Red 5 Studios, Petras returned in 2010 and shaped the art of Overwatch, one of Blizzard’s modern titles.
His creative impact has left a lasting mark on the gaming industry.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Bill’s family, friends, and colleagues. May they find peace and strength during this difficult time.
