Epic Games CCO Donald Mustard is Retiring

One of the most prominent creative driving forces behind Fortnite is leaving Epic Games. Donald Mustard, who is the chief creative officer at Epic Games, has announced that he is leaving the company. Mustard made the announcement via a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, confirming that he will be resigning from his role this month.

Mustard has been in the games industry for nearly 25 years. He was originally the founder of Chair Entertainment, where he was also the creative director for acclaimed Metroidvania title Shadow Complex and the mobile fantasy trilogy Infinity Blade. Chair Entertainment was acquired by Epic in 2008, a year before Shadow Complex launch.

Eventually, he became the company’s chief creative officer in 2016, after which he would go on to be the creative lead for Fortnite, overseeing the game’s rise to global prominence, and its continued unprecedented success thereafter.

“After an incredible adventure, I will be retiring from my role as Chief Creative Officer at Epic this month,” he wrote. “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 ambitious Advent Rising, to the start of ChAIR where we created Undertow, Shadow Complex, and the Infinity Blade trilogy, to the honor of our tiny team becoming part of Epic, each new chapter allowed me to accomplish something new and original. I am especially proud of the opportunity I’ve had to help create and shape Fortnite.

“I am humbled to have been a part of the team that every day tries to bring ‘joy and delight’ to the Fortnite community! We love watching you experience every moment – leaping from the Battle Bus for the very first time, seeing the rocket crack open the sky, dancing with friends after a Victory Royale, being sucked into a black hole or being washed out to sea as The Island flipped over – and on and on! I can’t wait to now share in the future of Fortnite as a player alongside all of you! The teams are in the best hands and they are working on huge, jaw dropping, amazing things!”

Epic has yet to provide details on what leadership changes it will institute for Fortnite and for the company as a whole in the wake of Mustard’s departure.

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/HWlNEarU4K

— Donald Mustard (@DonaldMustard) September 8, 2023