Veteran video game developer Warren Spector has announced his retirement from the industry, saying in a LinkedIn post that although he has changed his mind about retiring before, this time he is "pretty sure" he means it. Spector is best known for creating Deus Ex and Disney Epic Mickey, and for his contributions to series including Wing Commander, Ultima and System Shock, making him one of the most influential figures in game design over the past four decades. He said the industry had changed and was no longer "as much fun" for him, and that it was time to let a new generation of developers take the spotlight.

Spector is a month away from marking 44 years as a developer, having worked on 17 full games and around nine expansion packs, some of which are still played 15 to 30 years later. He said age and health considerations had factored into the decision, and that he now plans to write books, read, lecture and possibly consult, while also revisiting his piano playing. He did not entirely rule out a return, noting there are still three games he would like to make, but said for now it is "time to ride off into the sunset." The news comes as Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is due for release on Switch 2 this October, following last year's Deus Ex Remastered release on Switch.