You read the headline correctly: Cliff Bleszinski, known for his work on the Gears of War and Unreal tournament series, is leaving Epic Games. The news came earlier today on the Epic Games blog. Here is his farewell statement:
I’ve been doing this since I was a teenager, and outside of my sabbatical last year, I have been going non-stop. I literally grew up in this business, as Mike likes to say. And now that I’m grown up, it’s time for a much needed break.
I will miss the projects, the playtests, the debates, and most importantly, the people. Epic only hires the best of the best, and it has been a joy working with each and every one of you on a daily basis, whether you were hired weeks ago or decades ago. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with a variety of disciplines, from code to art to marketing and PR – it’s been one big, rewarding learning experience. I’m confident that each project that is being built, whether at Epic, Chair, PCF, or Impossible will be top notch and will please gamers and critics alike.
The Gears of Wars series is what made me so invested in my Xbox when I first got it, so it sad to see him leave. I wish him the best of luck on any of his future projects.
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