“No jokes about which colour of ending I’ve chosen, please.”
Casey Hudson, the project lead on the Mass Effect trilogy and producer on Knights of the Old Republic, has announced his departure from BioWare today. After sixteen years at the studio and significant involvement in some beloved titles, Hudson has decided to move on.
Most recently, Hudson was working on a new BioWare IP (not this one, the E3 one) at the company’s Edmonton studio. In reference to that title, he writes in his farewell letter that “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.”
The new Mass Effect title, meanwhile, is in the hands of Yanick Roy and Mike Gamble. Hudson was previously involved in a supervisory role (and may still be to some extent, unless they never talk to one another again for some weird reason.)
“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,” Hudson says in his statement.
He adds that “the people [at BioWare] 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.” There’s no indication yet what Hudson plans to do next, though judging by that previous sentence he might want to actually see his family for a bit.
In a separate message to BioWare fans, Hudson writes: “I’m profoundly appreciative of the role I’ve been able to play in creating these games. The very idea that so many of you have enjoyed spending time in the worlds we’ve created is the defining achievement of my career, and it’s your support over the years that made it all possible.”
