Warren Spector Retires from Video Game Development: "It's Not as Fun as It Used to Be"

Warren Spector has announced his retirement from video game development after almost 44 years in the industry. The designer of Deus Ex, one of the most important figures in the history of immersive sims, communicated his decision in a message published on LinkedIn, explaining that he is "pretty sure" this time it will be final, despite having changed his mind in the past.

Spector says he has worked on around 17 complete games and nine expansions, moving from tabletop role-playing games to video games and leading teams ranging from a dozen to about 800 people. A career linked to titles such as Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Thief: Deadly Shadows, Deus Ex, and Disney Epic Mickey, up to the recent Thick as Thieves by OtherSide Entertainment.

The reasons behind his choice include age, some health issues he doesn't want to detail, and above all, a changed relationship with the industry. "The video game business has changed, and it's not as fun for me as it used to be," he wrote, adding that a new generation of developers now deserves their space. Spector primarily feels he has "done what he set out to do."

However, his retirement leaves some regrets. Spector still has three games he would like to make: one "very big," one "very small," and a third he doesn't yet know how to develop, which is the one that intimidates him the most. He did not provide further details or link these ideas to known intellectual properties.

This does not mean he will disappear completely from the scene, however. He would like to dedicate himself to writing books, reading, and lecturing, also considering consulting activities and finding time for the piano again. A possible return is not entirely ruled out: "never say never," Spector clarified before bidding farewell to younger developers, reminding them that video games are still an unsolved problem, with much room left for experimentation and innovation.