ArenaNet Co-Founder & President Mike O’Brien Leaves To Form A New Studio With Friends

ArenaNet President Mike O’Brien has just announced that he will be leaving the company to form a new studio with some of his friends. The announcement was made through a post on the Guild Wars 2 official website earlier today:

“For the past two decades we’ve gotten to work with brilliant developers and advisors, we’ve enjoyed an amazing relationship with the Guild Wars community, and were able to pursue the games of our dreams. I’ve appreciated every moment of it. But the time has come for me to take a step back. Next week I’ll some of my friends in forming a new studio. We’ll go back to the beginning and make small games again.”

The studio has yet to reveal who will be taking over as President, but Game Director Mike Zadorojny will apparently be taking on a bigger role in ArenaNet. “Two years ago, when I transitioned away from the Guild Wars 2 game director role to focus on new product development, I asked Mike Zadorojny to take on that role,” says O’Brien. “Now as he takes on a larger leadership role, I am confident that ArenaNet and Guild Wars 2 are in good hands. Z is a true champion of the Guild Wars franchise and of this studio’s values; he is the best person to continue carrying the torch at the company.”

O’Brien continues to thank the Guild Wars community for their unwavering , NCSoft and NCSoft CEO TJ Kim for standing behind ArenaNet, and the entire ArenaNet team. “It’s been an honor to work beside you all these years. We’ve had amazing adventures together. It’s been the journey of a lifetime, and I’ll always carry your ion with me.”

Mike Zadorojny also penned a response to O'Brien's farewell message. “Mike led the studio for so many years, and so much of the amazing culture in this building stems from his leadership along with the other founders during the early days of ArenaNet, which strived to be a creative space where art came to life and the studio innovated and created games that were detailed, wondrous spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

“I want to personally wish Mike the very best in whatever is next for him. Though he is leaving the studio, his presence and legacy will always be a part of the team, and I am going to make sure I do everything I can to keep the torch he ed me burning brightly into the future, both for the Guild Wars franchise and ArenaNet itself. I am looking forward to continuing this journey with all of you.”

According to a Reddit thread, O’Brien’s new studio is called ManaWorks which includes a number of familiar names from ArenaNet such as 3D Environment Artist Tirzah Bauer, Technical Director Brett Vickers, and Design Director Isaiah “izzy” Cartwright.