Veteran Blizzard Entertainment community manager Micah Whipple AKA "Bashiok" has quit the company. Whipple, who started at Blizzard in 2003, announced the news on Friday in a post on Battle.net.

"Blizzard--and the community that surrounds it--has defined almost my entire adult life, and I am just so absolutely grateful to all of my friends here for having such an incredible and positive impact on who I am, and who I am yet to become," he wrote. "I don't think I've had to make any decisions as difficult as the one to leave Blizzard, but a new opportunity has come my way, and I've decided to take it."

Whipple, a self-described "rabid gamer," said he's looking forward to a future when he can be surprised by Blizzard's announcements like everyone else.

"As a lifelong fan and rabid gamer it makes me giddy thinking about being able to sit in the audience at BlizzCon, watching a stream, or reading the newest blog posts, and seeing whatever's in store next--for the first time," he said.

Whipple did not provide any details about what his next gig is.

He leaves Blizzard on the eve of World of Warcraft's sixth expansion, which will be announced next week at Gamescom.