Deus Ex Creator Warren Spector Announces Retirement After 44 Years

Warren Spector, the legendary game designer responsible for creating franchises like Deus Ex and System Shock, is calling it quits. Spector made the announcement on Monday in a lengthy LinkedIn post and has set his profile to say “Retired.”

“Let me cut right to the chase. I’m retiring from game development,” Spector wrote, “At least I think so. I’ve been here before and changed my mind, but this time I’m pretty sure I mean it.”

Spector notes that he is approaching his 44th year as a developer. In the 1990s, Spector became a massively influential game producer, helped develop several titles in the Ultimate series and the original System Shock. In 1997, Spector founded Ion Storm’s Austin studio and developed the first Deus Ex. Ion Storm Austin would also develop Thief: Deadly Shadows. Between System Shock, Deus Ex, and Thief, Spector helped popularize and define the immersive sim genre.

More recently, Spector was developing an immersive sim multiplayer game called Argos: Riders on the Storm at OtherSide Entertainment. In June, development on Argos was canceled and OtherSide laid off 17 employees. “With all that behind me and with age and health (my business) catching up with me, I’m feeling like I’ve done what I set out to do,” wrote Spector. The post also reflects on Spector’s lengthy career. While he is proud some of the games he helped create are still influential, Spector said the most important part is that he thinks he’s “helped some insanely talented people along in their careers.”

Spector had “mixed feelings” about his retirement. Specifically, the legendary developer still has three games he’d like to make. “One is very big, one is very small, and one I don’t know how to make, which scares me,” he said, continuing, “But the game business has changed, and it’s just not as much fun for me anymore.” Spector signed off the post with some optimism that counters the often dismal reality of modern game development. He spoke directly to younger game developers, encouraging them to make people forget people like him ever existed, “Now stop reading and make great games.”