Cliff Bleszinski Leaving Epic Games

Who expected this one?

Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski is leaving Epic Games to “chart the next stage of his career,” according to a blog post on 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,” said Bleszinski in a note to colleagues, parts of which are featured on the site. “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.”

Bleszinski pointed people to the blog on his Twitter account, but has said nothing else about his future.

The designer has been at Epic Games for 20 years, having worked on everything from Jazz Jackrabbit to Unreal Tournament. He was one of the principal leads on the Gears of War franchise, and often shared the spotlight with Mark Rein and Mike Capps as the faces of Epic Games.

He was always a fun interview, too.

This is crazy.

Damn

Wow. Well, good luck to you, Cliff!

wow

Good for him, he's earned it.

Huh...

Woah!

I hope he'll show up in podcasts and stuff like that.

Oh shit.

And I was so looking forward to the final chapter in the Jazz Jackrabbit trilogy.

I didn't see that one coming. Although maybe he'll go on the David Jaffe track and get back to making games like Jack Jazzrabbit.

The series is overrated anyway he wants to create new games not stale rehashes

Holy Shit!

Man didn't see this coming

Shit be cray.

booooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

o_o so what's happening with Fortnite.

Also, Jazz Jackrabbit is awesome...

This is kinda like a big deal!

Wow

If he starts working on Playstation All-Star Battle Royale as well, then I'm through.

Good luck to him. I'm definitely surprised.

I guess i'm not the only one who isn't upset, this can only be a good thing really.

That sucks. I wish him luck whatever he does next. My prediction: He joins into the beer show one of the bioware doctors is making. Can't remember which one it is.

Jazz Jackrabbit, with Dean Dodrill doing the art. GO.

Think this might be a great move for him, looking forward to seeing what he does next.

Well, I didn't see this one coming.

"One of the masterminds behind Gears of War is finally leaving the nest."

That sentence sounds like Patrick was hoping for him to leave?

MY WORLD HAS BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN!

Wow, didn't expect this one

DUDEHUGE NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This means that the Bioware Doctors and Dudehuge can make games together right!? Cause I'll buy that at a high price!

As the 8-4 guys would say, this is Megaton!

wow everyone seems to be laving Epic this year. wonder what up

First the Bioware Doctor's and now CliffyB. Oh god what is happening?! In all seriousness though, he has been insanely busy for a very long time and a break is certainly not a bad thing. It's going to be strange not seeing him so enthusiastically talking about Gears and the Unreal Engine.

That is bananas! Best of luck to Cliff with whatever he does next!

Between Cliffy B leaving Epic and the Doctors leaving Bioware, it'll be interesting to see what the big names next gen look like.

NOT CLIFFY B!!!!

Well that's unexpected.

Whoa...seriously. Never expected this. Man, best of luck to him in what he does next. Always loved Bleszinski.

Well, I guess it's time for the new generation to step in. Even if it's sad.

And we all know where this leads, because you've all been playing CoD, this is why we get things like RE6. Good thing for epic though, I guess.

/slightly sarcastic

Godspeed you beautiful bastard.

He's going to lead Kojima Production's LA studio.

What?! ... did not see that one coming. But hey, I guess there's something to be said for quitting while you're ahead. Not to say Epic is gonna suck from now on, but it's gonna be hard for them to top the immense success this console generation has been for them.

It's about time! Now the man can finally make that Jazz Jackrabbit reboot they kept refusing to greenlight!

Let me guess, going to start his own company to make the 'infinity blade killer'

Wow. Fair enough, the man did good work, deserves a break.

Wow. guess this generation has lasted so long that not only are people getting franchise fatigue... they are getting working on franchise fatigue.

I did not know Jazz Jackrabbit was from Unreal... The more you know...