Cliff Bleszinski leaves Epic Games

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.