Skip to main content

‘Gears of War’ designer Cliff Bleszinski says he’ll never make another game

LAWBREAKERS Official Cinematic Trailer (2017)

Game designer Cliff Bleszinski recently closed the doors to his studio, Boss Key Productions, following the commercial failure of its game LawBreakers, and you shouldn’t expect him to be working on another title — ever, if we can take him at his word.

Answering an upset fan who demanded a refund for LawBreakers, Bleszinski explained that he didn’t take a salary for himself for the last two years, despite paying all of his employees their own salary and benefits. He added that this reaction from players that was “another reason” he would never be making another video game.

I paid my employees, their 401ks, and their health care – even months after the studio folded. So they could care for their families.

I didn't take a salary myself for two years.

I get you're sad, but god, this kinda shit is another reason I am NEVER making another game. https://t.co/RtS7l5WcAl

— Cliff Bleszinski (@therealcliffyb) November 15, 2018

Bleszinski added in a separate tweet that the majority of video game fans are “rad,” including those he has met in person. Of course, on the internet, it doesn’t always seem that way.

This wouldn’t be the first time Bleszinski effectively retired from the industry. He took a break after the release of Gears of War 3, leaving Epic Games behind. He had worked there since he was a teenager, helping to create the Gears of War franchise, as well as develop games in the Unreal series.

The Gears of War series continued after Bleszinski left Epic Games, with the developer supporting People Can Fly to create the prequel Gears of War: Judgment. Following that game’s release, Microsoft bought the rights to the series and began developing it in-house with its studio, The Coalition. Gears of War 4 has been released, with Gears 5, Gears Tactics, and Gears Pop! on the way.

Several figures in the game industry voiced their support for Bleszinski in his most recent decision. God of War director Cory Barlog was among them, saying Bleszinski “did right by [his people]” and his actions “should be held up as a standard for how we should all aspire to treat those we create with.”

Following LawBreakers’ launch as a paid multiplayer title, Boss Key briefly converted the game to a free-to-play model before opting to shut it down completely. The studio then pivoted to developing a battle royale game called Radical Heights, which received scathing reviews. The studio folded about a month after the game launched in early access.

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
PlayStation Plus’ most notable free April offerings come from Microsoft
Four players stand together in the 4v4 PvP mode of Minecraft Legends.

Sony outlined all the new offerings PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers can expect in April; surprisingly, Microsoft is the company behind two of this month's four offerings, Minecraft Legends, and the Overwatch 2 Mega Bundle.

On April 2, PS Plus can get those two things free of charge in addition to Immortals of Aveum and Skul: The Hero Slayer. Immortals of Aveum is a single-player shooter where players use magic instead of weapons. Although the thing it's most notable for is flopping upon its release, Immortals of Aveum is still a solid shooter that you might have missed out on, and you should give it a shot now that you can get it through PS Plus. Meanwhile, Skul: The Hero Slayer is a tough 2D platformer roguelike that should entertain fans of that genre for quite some time.

Read more
These are the 10 best gaming PCs I’d recommend to anyone
Graphics card in the CLX Hathor PC.

We review dozens of gaming PCs each year. In 2024, there are a ton of great options, but we've narrowed down a list of the 10 best gaming desktops that deserve your hard-earned money.

In 2024, we still recommend the Alienware Aurora R16 due to its fantastic design, solid performance, and decent value. However, there are several other options depending on your needs and budget. If you want a deeper look into how we evaluate gaming PCs, make sure to read our post on how we review desktops.

Read more
Mecha Break’s robot customization shakes up the battle royale formula
Mecha Break robot head with glowing blue eyes

Mecha Break isn't the kind of multiplayer game you can master right away.

You might equip a lance that you barely know how to use because it seemed like a good idea, and spend the rest of a round attempting to bash yourself into enemies to help your teammates. It incorporates action that's more similar to that of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon than it is to the shooter-focused gameplay in Gundam Evolution, Bandai Namco's multiplayer mecha shooter that shut down last year. Overwatch does come to mind, but in a way where mechs are still the focus rather than the pilots within them.

Read more