Cliff Bleszinski, Epic Games design director, has departed from the developer. Bleszinski worked at Epic Games for 20 years, contributing to Jazz Jackrabbit in the Epic MegaGames era, to then-PC-graphics-powerhouse Unreal, to the Xbox 360 tent pole Gears of War trilogy. His exit was announced in a post on the company's blog.
"I’ve been doing this since I was a teenager, and outside of my sabbatical last year, I have been going non-stop," Bleszinski said in a departing note to his colleagues. "I literally grew up in this business, as [Epic Games president Mike Capps] 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, [People Can Fly], or Impossible will be top notch and will please gamers and critics alike.
No indication was given as to the 37-year-old game designer's next vocation or place of employment.
