BioWare General Manager Aaryn Flynn announced today that he’s leaving the company after 17 years, and will be replaced by Casey Hudson, who previously left the company back in 2014.
Flynn will officially depart BioWare on July 31.
At the end of his goodbye message, Flynn mentioned that this is something he’s been thinking about for some time:
I have been contemplating changes in my own life for some time, but when I heard that Casey had confirmed he was up for the task, I realized the opportunities before us. I will be working with him over the next couple of weeks to help catch him up and do my part to set him up for success to be the best GM he can be.
In closing, let me thank our players for everything they’ve given us over these many years, and to say from the bottom of my heart how important you are to me and the rest of BioWare. I have gone to work every day knowing that I am fortunate to have all of the opportunities I have had at BioWare because of you. Doing whatever I could to help our developers create some of the best games in the industry for you all has been the most humbling experience of my life. Now, I’ll be playing BioWare’s games in the future from an exciting new perspective – yours.
Hudson wrote his own message, where he talked about leaving BioWare three years ago, which was “the most difficult decision of my career.” He then added, “I needed some time off, needed a bit of change, and wanted to get involved in the new wave of disruptive technologies that were emerging.”
He continued by saying he’s thrilled to have the opportunity to return to lead BioWare, and he thinks the best is yet to come from the studio:
I’d also like to wish my good friend Aaryn Flynn the very best in the future. Aaryn and I have worked together from the earliest days of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, to setting the foundation for Anthem. We’ve been through a lot together, and we’re all going to miss his presence at the studio.
I think I speak for everyone who has worked with Aaryn – and our fans – when I say thank you for everything. BioWare continues to hold a special magic – full of profoundly talented people, and an inspiring creative energy. When I look at the stunning progress Aaryn and the team has made with Anthem, and the other projects in the works, I truly believe our best is yet to come.
BioWare released Mass Effect Andromeda earlier this year, and is now working on Anthem, which will be out in fall 2018.
[Source: BioWare (1), (2)]