Cliff Bleszinski, a man whose resume contains everything from Jazz Jackrabbit to Unreal, and the face behind the industry shaping Gears of War series, has left his position at Epic Games. Cliff had this to say via the Epic Games blog:

“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.”

Regardless of personal opinions on him, Cliff has helped develop and direct numerous high profile releases with critical acclaim. In addition, his personable communication with fans helped put a face to the now monolithic Epic Games.