Matthew Armstrong, the creator of Borderlands and the franchise’s director, has left Gearbox. He’s not said what he will be moving onto, only that this was an opportunity to leave the studio without leaving the development of a Borderlands game in the lurch.
Armstrong made his announcement on Twitter:
Things changed. No longer working at @GearboxSoftware. I will always love Gearbox, but it’s adventure time.
— Matthew Armstrong (@MisterArmstrong) April 17, 2015
Armstrong’s departure comes in the same week as the 2K Australia studio was closed down. The studio had been behind the Borderlands Pre-sequel, though he told Game Informer that this isn’t linked to his own departure.
“Pre-Sequel, Claptastic Voyage, and Handsome collection all shipped,” Armstrong told Game Informer. “In a rare moment, I was temporarily non-vital. I could leave without damaging Borderland or Gearbox too much if I did it at this moment, so now was the time. I think Gearbox will do great in the future, and I think Borderlands will stay strong and awesome. I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I’m not quitting out of anger or getting fired. It’s just time for new adventures. I’m an inventor. I’m ready to make something new. Not just new to me, but new to everyone.”
Earlier this year at PAX Gearbox announced they were beginning work on Borderlands 3. It appears that will be the first game in the series withoutArmstrong’s express oversight.