Epic Games chief creative officer Donald Mustard has announced his retirement this month after a successful stint of seven years with the company. In a tweet, he expressed his desire to spend more time with his wife and family after being a part of the gaming industry for almost 25 years.
During his tenure, Mustard played a pivotal role as the head of Fortnite, leading the game’s storytelling and creative decision-making for its popular Battle Royale mode. While Epic Games has not disclosed his successor or provided details about the future of the game, it is expected that the dedicated team of developers will continue to work on exciting new updates for the Fortnite community.
Mustard’s Twitter post read:
After an incredible adventure, I will be retiring from my role as Chief Creative Officer at Epic this month.
I have enjoyed nearly 25 years in the game industry collaborating with some of the most talented people ever and I am so proud of what we have made together. From the… pic.twitter.com/9KJT9Jg2jr
— Donald Mustard (@DonaldMustard) September 8, 2023
Reflecting on his journey, Mustard expressed gratitude for his collaborations with talented individuals and the innovative projects they worked on together. From the creation of games like Advent Rising and the successful Undertow, Shadow Complex, and Infinity Blade trilogy at ChAIR, to his team joining Epic Games, each chapter marked a new opportunity to achieve something remarkable.
Mustard particularly highlighted his pride in contributing to the development and growth of Fortnite. He acknowledged the joy and delight the game brings to its community, referencing moments like the first jump from the Battle Bus, witnessing the cracked sky due to a rocket launch, celebrating a Victory Royale with friends, and experiencing captivating events such as the black hole phenomenon and The Island’s transformation. As he transitions to being a player, he eagerly looks forward to the future of Fortnite, emphasizing the dedication and talent of the current teams working on astonishing new projects.
Closing his statement, Mustard expressed excitement about the prospect of spending more time with his loved ones while extending gratitude to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and the entire Epic Games family for their support throughout his journey.
Mustard’s departure coincides with Fortnite’s ongoing fan-favorite season, Chapter 4 Season 4: Last Resort. If you haven’t had the chance to explore the latest season, be sure to watch the Last Resort trailer and read our comprehensive feature on everything you need to know about Fortnite Chapter 4: Season 4.