Cliff Blezsinski departs Epic Games

Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski has announced his departure from the studio.

Bleszinski spent 20 years with the company, where he worked on critically acclaimed titles such as Unreal Tournament and Gears of War.

He took to the Epic Games website to declare he was ready for a 'much needed break'.

"I've been doing this since I was a teenager, and outside of my sabbatical last year, I have been going non-stop," he said.

"I literally grew up in this business, as Mike [Capps, president of Epic] likes to say. And now that I'm a 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 PC - 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."

Epic's founder and CEO, Tim Sweeney, said Bleszinski's contributions to the games industry over the last two decades have helped make it what it is today.

"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!"