Rob Pardo
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Rob Pardo’s battle royale tower climb ARPG Arkheron kicks off a two week-long closed beta July 15
Rob Pardo's indie studio Bonfire Studios announced that their isometric PvP team-based brawler Arkheron will begin a two-week closed beta on July 15th. The beta will focus on the Spires mode, with the primary Ascension mode available on Fridays and Saturdays. Players can request access on Steam, and participants from earlier playtests will be able to join.
The Arkheron Closed Beta opens July 15 with numerous updates!
Bonfire Studios announced that the closed beta for their competitive PvP action game, Arkheron, will begin on July 15 and run for two weeks. This beta will introduce new modes like Spires and Learning Spires, cosmetic progression, and incorporate feedback from Steam Next Fest. Players can gain access through Steam and FirstLook waitlists, with invited players receiving additional friend invites.
Arkheron, a competitive PvPvE action RPG, will open its closed beta next week—and I'm getting that Battlerite nostalgia just looking at this thing
Arkheron, a competitive PvPvE action RPG developed by Bonfire Games, will launch its closed beta on July 15 and run until July 26. The game features squad-based gameplay where players climb a tower in the afterlife, combining looting and combat segments with arena showdowns. CEO Rob Pardo and game director Jeremy Craig discussed the evolution of the game's camera mechanics and gameplay.
Perfect Ten: MMOs and other online projects created by ex-Blizzard devs
This article highlights ten notable projects created by former Blizzard Entertainment developers and leads, focusing on MMORPGs and other online games. It details various ventures, including Jeff Kaplan's 'The Legend of California,' Greg Street's 'Project Ghost,' and Ben Brode's successful 'Marvel Snap.'
Blizzard Legend Rob Pardo Drops Truth Bomb on Gaming’s Layoff Epidemic at GDC
Blizzard veteran Rob Pardo delivered a keynote at GDC 2026, urging game industry executives to cease the wave of layoffs. Pardo emphasized that development teams are more valuable than the games themselves, highlighting the human cost of prioritizing profits over people. He called for a more sustainable, human-centered approach to studio management.
"You've got to shut this down" - Jeff Kaplan recalls the "disaster" of Blizzard MMO Titan's development
Former Blizzard designer Jeff Kaplan described the cancelled MMO Titan as a "disaster" born from hubris following World of Warcraft's success. The ambitious project, intended to feature a dual-world structure with secret agent and business simulation elements, suffered from a lack of cohesion and clear direction, ultimately costing Blizzard an estimated $83 million before its cancellation in 2013. Kaplan admitted leadership, including his own, was ultimately responsible for the failure, with elements of Titan later influencing Overwatch.
Rob Pardo says 'love' is the most important development milestone
Bonfire Studios boss Rob Pardo believes that 'love' is the single most important development milestone for a game. He suggests this is the only true measure of potential during the production process.
Ex-Blizzard exec commands others to stop taking devs for granted as EA, Ubisoft, and too many more drown the industry in layoffs: "The thing that made the game special in the first place is the people who built it"
Former Blizzard CCO Rob Pardo urged executives to value developers more, citing recent layoffs at Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and other companies. He emphasized that the people who build games are crucial to their enduring success and that institutional knowledge is being lost.
Blizzard vet Rob Pardo closed this year's GDC keynote by urging executives to cool it with the layoffs: 'The game team is more valuable than the game itself'
Former Blizzard executive Rob Pardo delivered the GDC keynote, urging industry leaders to prioritize retaining development teams over short-term gains, especially after successful game launches. He argued that the team's collective experience and ability to navigate development challenges are more valuable than the game itself, citing recent layoffs despite strong sales as a detrimental practice.
Blizzard veteran Rob Pardo says 'love' is the most important development milestone
Blizzard veteran Rob Pardo stated that a team's 'love' for the game they are developing is the most crucial milestone for success. He explained that when developers become more invested in playing and improving their own game than anything else, it signals a project's potential for widespread player appeal.
WoW's Horde/Alliance split was 'really controversial', says Jeff Kaplan, to the point where it was only locked in 9-12 months before the game's launch
Former Blizzard vice president Jeff Kaplan revealed that the Horde and Alliance faction split in World of Warcraft was a highly controversial decision, only being finalized 9-12 months before the game's launch. Kaplan, along with other developers like Rob Pardo and Allen Adham, debated the merits of the faction system, which was inspired by games like Dark Age of Camelot.
WoW's Horde And Alliance Divide Was Only Agreed On Less Than A Year Before Release
Former Blizzard veteran Jeff Kaplan revealed that the decision to divide World of Warcraft players into the Horde and Alliance factions was finalized only nine months to a year before the game's 2004 release. The controversial feature was strongly advocated for by Blizzard co-founder Allen Adham, despite initial arguments against it from Kaplan and Rob Pardo, who came from an Everquest background where such divisions were not present.
The Best Games Under $5 on the PS Store Right Now (Limited Time)
Rob Pardo, Bonfire Studios manager and former Blizzard chief creative officer, will deliver a keynote address at GDC's Festival of Gaming. The article also briefly mentions a list of games under $5 on the PlayStation Store.
Evening Gatherings and Events
Gamescom 2026 has seen a 15% increase in registered exhibitors, with participation from over 40 countries. Industry veteran Rob Pardo, founder of Bonfire Studios and formerly of Blizzard Entertainment, is set to deliver keynotes at the event.
Former Blizzard CCO and Bonfire CEO Rob Pardo to present keynote address at GDC Festival of Gaming
Rob Pardo, former Chief Creative Officer at Blizzard Entertainment and current manager at Bonfire Studios, will deliver a keynote address titled "An Odyssey in Building Games That Last" at the GDC Festival of Gaming. The presentation will cover his decades of experience in the industry, including his work on StarCraft, World of Warcraft, and Diablo, and his approach to game development at Bonfire Studios.
Influential Game Designer Rob Pardo Hosting GDC Festival of Gaming March 12
Influential game designer Rob Pardo will deliver a keynote titled “An Odyssey in Building Games That Last” at the GDC Festival of Gaming on March 12. Pardo, known for his work on StarCraft, World of Warcraft, and Diablo, will reflect on his career and discuss his current project, Arkheron, with Bonfire Studios. The GDC Festival of Gaming runs from March 9-13 in San Francisco.
