Casey Hudson, whose 16 years at BioWare saw him going from technical artist on MDK 2 to project director on Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect series. Today he announces his departure from the RPG developer after deciding to “hit the reset button.”
He’s not an android, but he is taking a break, leaving BioWare to get some perspective, figuring out what he wants to do.
Hudson believes that now is the best time for him to leave the developer.
“Though there’s never an easy time to make a change like this, I believe this is the best time for it,” he says in a letter written to colleagues today. “The foundation of our new IP in Edmonton is complete, and the team is ready to move forward into pre-production on a title that I think will redefine interactive entertainment. Development for the next Mass Effect game is well underway, with stunning assets and playable builds that prove the team is ready to deliver the best Mass Effect experience to date. And the Dragon Age: Inquisition team is putting the final touches on a truly ambitious title with some of the most beautiful visuals I’ve seen in a game.”
But it’s still hard to leave, he says. “But while I feel that the time has come, this is without a doubt the most difficult decision of my career. BioWare is as magical a place today as it was when I started. The projects we are working on are some of the most exciting and prestigious in the world. The talent in our teams is second to none. And the people here are some of my closest friends. I’ve spent more time with many of you than my own family, and I have enjoyed every day of it.”
General manager Aaryn Flynn lauded his ex-colleague, praising his work and the “passion” he brought with him. “Casey has challenged every one of us in the studio to be better tomorrow than we were today. It is in that spirit that as we finish Dragon Age: Inquisition, we will continue working on the next Mass Effect game and our new IP project, confident in our goals and progress.”
BioWare’s next big release is Dragon Age: Inquisition, which looking to be shaping up nicely. It was pushed back until November so the team could polish it further. The developer has also been teasing a new project with a series of vague trailers for the mystery game, Shadow Realms.