Creative Director - Hearthstone | Irvine, CA

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Director - Hearthstone | Irvine, CA

🔹 Company: Blizzard Entertainment

🔹 Location: Irvine, California, United States

🔹 Job Type: Hybrid

🔹 Category: Entertainment Providers

🔹 Date Posted: April 4, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site with some remote work

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Setting the creative vision for Hearthstone
• Collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams
• Defining tone, narrative, and visual design
• Ensuring a cohesive and inspiring player experience
• Driving great story and craft across all areas of the game

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creative leadership and collaboration with various teams to maintain a consistent and engaging player experience.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Forge the overall creative direction for new content and features, including tone, themes, stories, locations, and player experiences.

✅ Define and drive the team’s understanding of different types of players and how to create compelling content for each.

✅ Align the creative vision across all disciplines, including art, UI/UX, audio, and narrative, to ensure a cohesive and impactful player experience.

✅ Drive great story and craft that inspires players through all areas of the game, including gameplay, features, and live ops.

✅ Champion diversity and inclusion across all areas, including setting and meeting targets for team composition and in-game representation.

✅ Effectively manage team directors around setting creative goals, establishing standards for quality, and review of delivery with an eye toward ongoing improvement.

✅ Partner closely with game designers to execute the vision as an integral part of innovative gameplay and features.

✅ Work with publishing, marketing, and story-franchise development teams to generate high-quality assets and ensure creative alignment between those teams and the game team.

✅ Oversee external partners and outsourcing teams to ensure delivery of high-quality creative content.

✅ As needed, directly generate content including style guides, art descriptions, concept sketches, flavor text, card names, pet and other cosmetic concepts, and other tasks that align with your core skillsets.

✅ Operate with autonomy while upholding and embodying Blizzard’s creative values in all aspects of your work.

✅ Inspire and encourage all of our teams with your energy, optimism, and dedication.

✅ Contribute to new R&D projects in the same role.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creativity, leadership, and collaboration to ensure a cohesive and engaging player experience across all aspects of the game.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Not specified

Experience: 10+ years of experience in AAA video game development with multiple shipped titles or live service equivalent.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to forge creative direction and drive player experiences
• Experience leading or directing teams in art, UI art, narrative, or audio
• Proficiency in creative software tools such as Maya, Adobe Creative Suite, Unity, or Unreal Engine
• Incredible storytelling acumen and world-building toolset
• Demonstrated aptitude for practical reuse and production techniques to maximize ROI on creative systems

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in shared world game development
• Knowledge and passion for the Warcraft universe, Hearthstone, and CCGs generally
• UX experience

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in creative direction, team leadership, and storytelling to excel in this role.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $164,800.00 - $304,800.00 Annual

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance
• 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching
• Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave
• Mental health and wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life and disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others
• If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week)

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is for the U.S. locations and may vary for other regions. The benefits package is comprehensive and designed to support employees' physical, emotional, and financial well-being.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Entertainment Providers

Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees

Founded: Not specified

Company Description:

• Activision Blizzard, Inc. is one of the world’s largest interactive entertainment companies, with operations across North America, Europe, and Asia.
• They are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, Skylanders®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™, and Bubble Witch™.
• Their combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making them the largest gaming network on the planet!

Company Specialties:

• Video Games
• Entertainment
• Consumer Products
• Media
• Film and TV
• Gaming
• and Production

Company Website: http://www.activisionblizzard.com/

ASSUMPTION: Activision Blizzard is a large, well-established company in the entertainment industry with a diverse portfolio of popular franchises and a global user base.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Executive

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the leadership of the Hearthstone team and works closely with various cross-disciplinary teams.

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (some work required to be on-site and some work-from-home)

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to grow within the creative leadership track at Blizzard Entertainment
• Opportunities to contribute to new R&D projects and expand creative vision across multiple franchises

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand their creative influence within the company.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: On-site with some remote work

Office Location(s): Irvine, California, United States

Geographic Context:

• Irvine is located in Orange County, California, approximately 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles
• The area offers a mix of urban and suburban living with a Mediterranean climate
• Orange County is known for its beaches, theme parks, and outdoor recreation opportunities

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with some flexibility for remote work

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement allows for some flexibility in work location, but the role still requires regular on-site presence in Irvine, California.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screen with the hiring manager
• On-site or virtual interview with the creative team
• Final interview with the studio head or other senior leadership

Key Assessment Areas:

• Creative portfolio and presentation
• Storytelling and world-building skills
• Leadership and team management abilities
• Cultural fit and alignment with Blizzard’s values

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your creative direction, storytelling, and leadership abilities
• Research Blizzard Entertainment and the Hearthstone franchise to demonstrate your passion and understanding
• Be ready to discuss your creative vision for Hearthstone and how you would drive player experiences

ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, Hearthstone, Blizzard Entertainment, AAA Game Development, Team Leadership, Storytelling, World-Building, Player Experience, Hybrid Work, Irvine, California

ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, so it's essential to tailor your application materials and prepare thoroughly for interviews.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Maya
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Unity
• Unreal Engine
• Other relevant creative software tools

ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in creative software tools is required for this role, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their skills during the interview process.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Creativity
• Fun
• Innovation
• Quality
• Teamwork

Work Style:

• Collaborative
• Fast-paced
• Creative
• Results-driven

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you align with Blizzard’s creative values, and how do they influence your work?
• How do you approach collaboration and teamwork in a fast-paced, creative environment?
• How do you ensure the quality and consistency of creative output across multiple teams and disciplines?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be prepared to discuss their alignment with Blizzard’s values and work style expectations during the interview process.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing multiple teams and ensuring consistent creative direction across the game
• Balancing short-term live ops needs with long-term creative vision
• Navigating a large, complex organization with multiple franchises and stakeholders
• Adapting to the evolving gaming landscape and player expectations

ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges that require strong leadership, adaptability, and strategic thinking to succeed.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role is more focused on creative direction and leadership than other similar roles, such as Art Director or Narrative Designer
• It requires a broader understanding of the game and player experiences, as well as the ability to collaborate with various teams
• Career progression in this role may lead to higher-level creative leadership positions within the company

ASSUMPTION: This role is unique in its scope and requires a well-rounded creative leader with strong strategic and collaborative skills.

📝 Sample Projects

• Leading the creative direction for a new Hearthstone expansion, including tone, themes, stories, and player experiences
• Collaborating with the game design team to create innovative gameplay mechanics and features that align with the creative vision
• Working with external partners to deliver high-quality cinematics and other assets that enhance the player experience

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the breadth of responsibilities and collaborative nature of this role.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• What are the biggest creative challenges facing the Hearthstone team currently, and how can this role address them?
• How does this role collaborate with other teams and disciplines within Blizzard Entertainment?
• What opportunities are there for growth and development within this role and the company?
• How does Blizzard Entertainment support work-life balance for its employees?
• What are the most important qualities and skills for success in this role?

ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful questions during the interview process demonstrates your interest in the role and helps you make an informed decision about your future with the company.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
• Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your creative direction, storytelling, and leadership abilities
• Research Blizzard Entertainment and the Hearthstone franchise to demonstrate your passion and understanding
• Be ready to discuss your creative vision for Hearthstone and how you would drive player experiences
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your interview to express your continued interest in the role

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.