Cliff Bleszinski, the creative force behind the Gears of War series, has announced his departure from Epic Games.

One of the most prominent figures in video game development, Bleszinski explained his decision to leave his home at Epic Games via the company’s website.

 

“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.”

Bleszinski’s portfolio includes the Gears of War trilogy, as well as next year’s Gears of War: Judgment. However, during his time at Epic he has had a hand in most of their larger projects, including frantic first-person shooter Bulletstorm and, Metroidvania-alike, Shadow Complex.

Having found his footing in the video game industry with The Palace of Deceit: Dragon’s Plight, Bleszinski began to work on the Jazz Jackrabbit series and eventually went on to leave his mark on most of Epic’s games.

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