Fmr. VP, Technology Strategy & Planning, Blizzard Entertainment
Rob Bridenbecker was formerly responsible for overseeing the ongoing product evolution of Blizzard’s classic games, including StarCraft, the Warcraft real-time strategy games, and the classic Diablo games. With ongoing updates to Warcraft III and Diablo II, as well as the release of StarCraft: Remastered, the Classic Games team’s mission is to ensure players can continue to enjoy Blizzard’s foundational titles for years to come.
Rob joined Blizzard Entertainment in 1995, and like many in the then-nascent company, served in a few different roles, including technical support. Soon after, he took a leadership position in the development and evolution of Blizzard’s ground-breaking online platform, Battle.net. Rob also helped establish several other central technology groups over the course of his 20+ year stint, including the Web & Mobile team. Through the direction of those teams, Rob has played a key role in the establishment and growth of Blizzard’s online communities. In launching such a wide breadth of Blizzard games over the years, Rob’s experience has become a valuable resource to various teams across the company.
Having taught himself programming in high school, Rob has continued his practical education in technology throughout his tenure at Blizzard. Aside from gaming, Rob unwinds through various hobbies such as woodworking and metalworking, rocking out to 60s, 70s, and 80s metal and punk, and cultivating an organic orchard in Orange County. He hopes to one day develop that orchard into a self-sufficient piece of land for his family.