Deus Ex Creator Warren Spector Retires From Game Development

Warren Spector has announced his retirement from game development after nearly 44 years in the industry.

Spector details his extensive career in a LinkedIn post. In the post, he stated, "Let me cut right to the chase. I'm retiring from game development. At least I think so. I've been here before and changed my mind, but this time I'm pretty sure I mean it." He noted that he has worked on tabletop roleplaying games and board games in addition to digital titles. Spector listed 17 full games and around nine add-on packs among his credits, with some still played 15, 20 or 30 years later.

He highlighted that he has run teams ranging from a dozen to as many as 800 people. Spector added that he has experience at both big companies and startups, and that he believes he has helped advance the careers of talented developers.

The retirement stems from industry changes and personal factors. Spector said the games business has changed and is no longer as much fun for him. He cited his age, with his 44th year in development approaching in about a month, along with health considerations as key reasons. He expressed that he has accomplished what he set out to do.

Spector listed future plans that include writing books, reading extensively, lecturing, consulting and resuming piano practice. He invited contact regarding lecturing or consulting opportunities.

Mixed feelings accompany the decision. Spector acknowledged three specific games he would still like to make, describing one as very big, one as very small and one that he does not know how to create. He noted a new generation of developers deserves their time in the spotlight and urged them to make people forget predecessors like him. He emphasized that games remain an unsolved problem with room for experimentation and innovation.

The retirement is presented with some uncertainty. Spector concluded by saying, "Will I come back? Never say never. But I think it's time to ride off into the sunset." The announcement leaves open the possibility of a return depending on factors such as funding and team availability for one of his remaining game ideas. He ended the post by encouraging others to "stop reading and make great games."