Cliff Bleszinski, creator of Gears of War and founder of Boss Key Productions, has publicly disclosed a long battle with alcoholism that shaped his career trajectory. According to the designer, he functioned as a "functioning alcoholic" for an extended period before becoming a "non-functioning alcoholic".
In an interview with 80 Level, the 51-year-old Bleszinski placed primary responsibility on himself for Boss Key Productions' collapse in 2018, which followed the commercial failure of its two major titles: LawBreakers (an arena shooter) and Radical Heights (an '80s-themed battle royale). He reported suffering a seizure linked to his condition and states he is currently four months sober.
The designer also reflected on LawBreakers' failure in an account cited by PC Gamer, noting that ego played a significant role: "I could have used Rod [Fergusson], but I wanted it to be my show," Bleszinski said, referencing his longtime Gears of War collaborator. This decision to maintain sole control was "the first step" of his ego creeping in, as he described it.
Bleszinski departed the industry in 2018 and vowed never to develop games again. Now, however, he is reconsidering a full-time return. Should he come back to creation, he stated he will steer clear of the PvP (player-versus-player) segment, where his recent titles struggled, leaving the competitive market behind.
