In a shocking announcement, Cliff Bleszinski yesterday announced his departure from Epic Games. Bleszinski, known to the general gaming public as Cliffy B, worked as design director for some of Epic's biggest franchises like Gears of War and Unreal Tournament. In his farewell letter to fans on the Epic Games blog, Bleszinski hinted that he might not only be leaving Epic Games, but the gaming industry entirely.
"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," Cliffy B said.
"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," he added. "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," he concluded.
Tim Sweeney, Epic’s founder, CEO and technical director, said this about Bleszinski: “In 20 wonderful years with Epic, Cliff Bleszinski has grown into a true design luminary, and his contributions to the ‘Unreal’ and ‘Gears’ series have helped shape the game industry into what it is today. Cliff leaves Epic with our gratitude for his many contributions, and our wishes for continued success in the next chapter of his life!”
Epic Games President Dr. Michael Capps added: “In my 10 years of working with Cliff, his passion for creating video games of the highest quality has been unflinching. We are grateful for all of his hard work, and remain committed to making our fans happy and to always raising the bar in everything we do at Epic."
Cliffy B was one of the most entertaining gaming industry figures and an icon among developers. We wish him the best of long in his next endeavor, whatever that may be. Let's hope he continues to keep us entertained with his Twitter shenanigans.
