# Blizzard North

> former Bay Area division of Blizzard Entertainment

**Wikidata**: [Q2464302](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2464302)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_North)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blizzard-north

## Summary
Blizzard North was a video game development studio based in San Mateo, California, operated as a division of Blizzard Entertainment from 1993 until its dissolution in 2005. The studio, originally known as Condor Software, developed several notable games including the Diablo series before being absorbed by Blizzard's Irvine headquarters.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1993 in San Mateo, California, USA
- Founded by David Brevik, Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer
- Also operated under the names Condor, Condor Software, and Condor Studios
- Dissolved in 2005 after developing the original Diablo series
- Was a division of Blizzard Entertainment, which is now owned by Microsoft
- Developed notable games including Diablo, Diablo II, and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction
- Had 13 Wikipedia articles in multiple languages including English, French, Russian, and others

## FAQs
### Q: What games did Blizzard North develop?
A: Blizzard North developed several popular games including Justice League Task Force, Diablo, Diablo II, and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. The studio is best known for creating the original Diablo series, which became a defining title in the action role-playing game genre.

### Q: Why was Blizzard North dissolved?
A: Blizzard North was dissolved in 2005 following creative differences between the San Mateo studio and Blizzard Entertainment's Irvine headquarters. The studio's founders had been developing a different game vision than what Blizzard's leadership desired, leading to the division's closure.

### Q: What was Blizzard North's connection to Blizzard Entertainment?
A: Blizzard North was a division of Blizzard Entertainment, operating as its Bay Area studio based in San Mateo. It was founded in 1993 and operated until 2005 when it was dissolved, with its functions consolidated into Blizzard's Irvine headquarters.

### Q: Who were the key figures at Blizzard North?
A: Blizzard North was founded by David Brevik, Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer. David Brevik, born in 1968, was an American video game developer, entrepreneur, programmer, and game designer who played a central role in the studio's operations.

## Why It Matters
Blizzard North represents an important chapter in the evolution of the video game industry, particularly in the development of action role-playing games. The studio's creation of the Diablo series established new standards for the genre, influencing countless subsequent titles. The studio's dissolution also highlighted growing tensions between creative teams and corporate entities in the gaming industry. Despite its relatively short lifespan (1993-2005), Blizzard North's impact continues to resonate through the enduring popularity of the Diablo franchise, which remains one of the most recognizable gaming properties in the world.

## Notable For
- Developing the original Diablo series, which pioneered the action RPG genre
- Creating the foundational mechanics of loot-based gameplay that became a staple of many modern games
- Being founded by key figures who later went on to create other successful gaming ventures
- Operating under multiple names (Condor, Condor Software, Condor Studios) during its existence

## Body
### Origins and Structure
Blizzard North began in 1993 as Condor Software, later operating under variations of the Condor name including Condor Studios. The studio was based in San Mateo, California, and served as the Bay Area division of Blizzard Entertainment. It was founded by David Brevik, Erich Schaefer, and Max Schaefer, all of whom played pivotal roles in the company's development and game creation.

### Key Personnel
David Brevik was the most prominent figure at Blizzard North, serving as an American video game developer, entrepreneur, programmer, and game designer. Born on February 14, 1968, Brevik helped shape the studio's creative direction and technical implementation. The Schaefer brothers, Erich and Max, co-founded the studio alongside Brevik and contributed to many of its successful titles.

### Game Portfolio
The studio produced several notable games during its operation:
- Justice League Task Force (early work under the Condor name)
- Diablo (1996), which became a landmark title in the action RPG genre
- Diablo II (2000), expanded upon the original's success with enhanced gameplay
- Diablo II: Lord of Destruction (2001), an expansion that added new content and features

### Corporate Structure and Dissolution
Blizzard North operated as a division of Blizzard Entertainment, which was founded in 1991 and is now owned by Microsoft. The studio maintained a degree of autonomy while being part of the larger corporate structure. In 2005, Blizzard North was dissolved following creative differences between the Bay Area studio and Blizzard's Irvine headquarters. The dissolution marked the end of an era for the studio and led to the consolidation of Blizzard's development operations in Irvine.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Blizzard North",
  "description": "Former Bay Area division of Blizzard Entertainment that developed the original Diablo series from 1993 to 2005.",
  "url": "http://www.blizzard.com/",
  "sameAs": [
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## References

1. LastDodo
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013