Cliff Bleszinski Resigns From Epic Games
In a move that shocked pretty much everyone out there, Epic Games Design Director Cliff Bleszinski has resigned from the company. Bleszinski, who many have come to know as the figurehead for Epic Games for the past decade or so, has been the face of marketing such big hits as the Gears of War franchise, as well as the company’s upcoming co-op sandbox survival game Fortnite.
“Cliff has been my friend and business associate for the past 20 years and, while it is sad to see him move on from Epic, I know that everyone here has benefitted greatly from his passion for gaming and the depth of his expertise and experience,” said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic. “I’ll miss watching his star shine from such a close vantage point but I’ll still look forward to watching his continued success.”
The following is an excerpt from Cliff’s personal note to all of his colleagues over at Epic Games:
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.
While it is certainly great to hear that the man will be receiving a long-deserved break (especially considering that he recently wed his longtime girlfriend Lauren Berggren), it is also worth pondering why he decided to leave the company at such a seemingly random time. Was there some sort of internal conflict that led to his resignation? That information may never see the light of day, although we should all be happy for the man regardless.
It’s official – Dude Huge has left the building.
