Steve Danuser Quietly Left Blizzard Entertainment Last November - Interview with PC Gamer

wowhead.com:

In an interview with PC Gamer, former Narrative Director Steve Danuser confirmed his quiet departure from Blizzard last November, concluding an eight year career with the World of Warcraft development team from Warlords of Draenor through Dragonflight.

Responsible for guiding the World of Warcraft story and collaborating with other teams to develop the ongoing narrative, Danuser was a particularly visible member of the team, participating in several different interviews, which naturally made the director a target of community feedback throughout the very divisive reception of Shadowlands story arcs, though early Dragonflight content was generally better received.

As reported by PC Gamer, Danuser says his departure wasn't related to the return of Chris Metzen, who has largely been celebrated as the mastermind of the upcoming three-expansion World Soul Saga — he was simply ready for something new after working on the same game for eight years. Wanting to continue working remotely was also a factor, as Blizzard finally began to enforce their long-expected return to office policy.

While his role as narrative director guided most of the ongoing narrative, some of the parts he personally worked on include:

• The Marksmanship Hunter artifact questline and Legion Order Hall.
• Some of the original allied-race quests.
• Old God whispers and prophecies made by Il'gynoth and N'Zoth, which have long been used to tease future expansion content including the upcoming World Soul Saga.
• Tons of in-game books, including those found in the Forbidden Reach and the Emerald Dream in Dragonflight.
• Scripts for many of the «stay awhile and listen» conversations and in-game cutscenes.
• Canonizing the relationship between Nathanos Blightcaller and Sylvanas Windrunner.

Steve Danuser, via PC Gamer