Game industry legend Warren Spector announces retirement
Warren Spector, the influential developer behind foundational titles like Deus Ex, Thief, and System Shock, has announced his retirement from the game industry. The news was first reported by IGN and confirmed by a lengthy statement Spector posted on LinkedIn.
In the statement, Spector said he is "pretty sure" this is the end of his career, citing 44 years in the business. He said he feels he has accomplished his goals and that his age and health were factors, per IGN. He plans to write books, do some consulting and lecturing, and play piano.
Spector admitted he has mixed feelings, telling his audience, as quoted by Eurogamer, that "there are three games in particular I'd still like to make." He described one as very big, one as very small, and one he doesn't know how to make. However, he stated the game business has changed and "it's just not as much fun for me anymore."
The developer, often called a founding father of the immersive sim genre, most recently served as chief creative officer at OtherSide Entertainment. His last project, the stealth game Thick as Thieves, struggled commercially following its release, leading to layoffs at the studio.
While he says he is riding off into the sunset, Spector left the door slightly ajar for a potential return, writing "Never say never." He concluded his post with a message to younger developers: "your job is to make people forget people like me ever existed."
