Editing Cliff Bleszinski (section)

== Career ==
Bleszinski's first game was ''[[The Palace of Deceit]]'',<ref name="develop">{{Cite web |url=http://www.develop-online.net/interview/faq-cliff-bleszinski/0117275 |title=FAQ: Cliff Bleszinski |last=Freeman |first=Will |date=December 5, 2011 |website=[[Develop (UK magazine)|Develop]] |access-date=July 21, 2017}}</ref> an adventure title he started at the age of 15.<ref name="transcript">{{Cite web |url=http://amatranscripts.com/ama/cliff_bleszinski_2012-09-14.html |title=Cliff Blezinski Reddit AMA (transcript) |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205175228/http://amatranscripts.com/ama/cliff_bleszinski_2012-09-14.html |archive-date=February 5, 2016  }}</ref> Programmed in [[Visual Basic (classic)|Visual Basic]], its second version came out when he was 16.<ref name="transcript" />

=== Epic Games (1992–2012) ===
Bleszinski got his start at [[Epic Games]] in 1992, after submitting his game ''Dare to Dream'' to the company's CEO, [[Tim Sweeney (game developer)|Tim Sweeney]].<ref name="newyorker" /><ref name="gamasutra">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132426/from_the_past_to_the_future_tim_.php?page=8 |title=From The Past To The Future: Tim Sweeney Talks (page 8) |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=May 25, 2009 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=July 21, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729181845/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132426/from_the_past_to_the_future_tim_.php?page=8 |archive-date=July 29, 2017  }}</ref> Though ''Dare to Dream'' did not achieve a great success,<ref name="gamasutra" /> it led Bleszinski to work on ''[[Jazz Jackrabbit (1994 video game)|Jazz Jackrabbit]]'', a platformer co-developed by [[demoscene]] coder [[Arjan Brussee]].<ref name="gamasutra" /><ref name="jazz">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/09/and-all-that-jazz |title=...And All That Jazz |last=Fahs |first=Travis |date=January 9, 2009 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=August 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824053910/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/09/and-all-that-jazz |archive-date=August 24, 2017  }}</ref> The title, which came out in 1994, became Epic's biggest selling game at the time, earning him enough money to buy his first apartment and car.<ref name="gamasutra" /><ref name="ctrl">{{Cite web |url=http://ctrl500.com/game-design/the-summer-that-launched-my-career/ |title=The Summer That Launched My Career |last=Bleszinski |first=Cliff |website=Control500 |date=March 26, 2015 |access-date=July 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706082841/http://ctrl500.com/game-design/the-summer-that-launched-my-career/ |archive-date=July 6, 2017  }}</ref> It was also around this time that he joined Sweeney and [[James Schmalz]] on what would become ''[[Unreal (1998 video game)|Unreal]]'',<ref name="unreal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/makeunreal/ |title=Blinded By Reality: The True Story Behind the Creation of Unreal |last=Keighley |first=Geoffrey |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010519154729/http://www.gamespot.com/features/makeunreal/ |archive-date=May 19, 2001 |access-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref> which received a follow-up, ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'',<ref name="ut">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131569/postmortem_epic_games_unreal_.php?print=1 |title=Postmortem: Epic Games' Unreal Tournament |website=[[Gamasutra]] |publisher=[[UBM plc]] |date=June 9, 2000 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |first=Brandon |last=Reinhart |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017014133/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131569/postmortem_epic_games_unreal_.php?print=1 |archive-date=October 17, 2016 }}</ref> and expanded into a series of games.

In addition to his work on the ''[[Unreal (video game series)|Unreal]]'' series, Bleszinski served as creative consultant on ''[[Rune (video game)|Rune]]'',<ref name="pcgamer">{{Cite magazine |author=PC Gamer |title=Meet The Next Game Gods |url=https://archive.org/stream/UneditedPCGamer_marktrade/PC_Gamer_078u#page/n0/mode/2up |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |volume=7 |issue=November 2000 |pages=1, 70 & 84}}</ref> and as lead designer on the first three installments of the ''[[Gears of War]]'' franchise, which has sold over 22 million copies and earned over one billion in revenue as of January 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.xbox.com/2014/01/27/games-microsoft-studios-gears-of-war/ |title=Microsoft Studios acquires rights to Gears of War franchise |date=January 27, 2014 |website=Xbox Wire |access-date=September 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906182248/https://news.xbox.com/2014/01/27/games-microsoft-studios-gears-of-war/ |archive-date=September 6, 2017  }}</ref> ''Gears of War'' evolved out of the development of what was going to be a game called ''Unreal Warfare''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/104058/PostGDC_Cliff_Bleszinski_Says_Iteration_Won_Gears_of_War.php|title=Post-GDC: Cliff Bleszinski Says Iteration Won Gears of War|website=[[Gamasutra]]|date=March 12, 2007|access-date=April 21, 2016|first=Jason|last=Dobson|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126205616/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/104058/PostGDC_Cliff_Bleszinski_Says_Iteration_Won_Gears_of_War.php|archive-date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> As Bleszinski explained in a speech at [[Game Developers Conference|GDC]] 2007 entitled "Designing Gears of War: Iteration Wins," the game started out as another first-person shooter in the ''Unreal'' universe.<ref name="warfare">{{Cite web |url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/gears-of-war/771718p1.html |title=Everything You Wanted to Know About Gears of War... |last=McGarvey |first=Sterling |date=March 8, 2007 |website=[[GameSpy]] |access-date=September 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111708/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/gears-of-war/771718p1.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016  }}</ref> Over time, however, influenced by the cover mechanic in Namco's 2003 game ''[[Kill Switch (video game)|Kill Switch]]'' and the third-person ''[[Resident Evil 4]]'', ''Unreal Warfare'' became the game known as ''Gears of War''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-07-cliffy-b-disassembles-gears-mentions-sequel/1100-6167213/ |title=GDC 07: Cliffy B disassembles Gears, mentions sequel |last=Thorsen |first=Tor |date=March 12, 2007 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=September 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321235519/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/gdc-07-cliffy-b-disassembles-gears-mentions-sequel/1100-6167213/ |archive-date=March 21, 2014  }}</ref> In 2009, he was chosen by [[IGN]] as one of the top 100 game creators of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title=IGN - 40. Cliff Bleszinski |url=https://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/40.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420081358/http://www.ign.com/top/game-creators/40.html |archive-date=2014-04-20 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Cliff Bleszinski 2 (cropped).jpg|thumb|230px|Bleszinski at the ''[[Gears of War (video game)|Gears of War]]'' launch event at the [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]], 2006]]
After 20 years with the company, Cliff announced his departure from Epic Games on October 3, 2012, saying he had been making video games since he was a teen and wanted to take a break.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epicgames.com/community/2012/10/cliff-bleszinski-departs-epic/ |title=Cliff Bleszinski Departs Epic |publisher=[[Epic Games]] |website=Epic Games Community |date=October 3, 2012 |access-date=November 21, 2012 |author=Epic Games|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004030613/http://epicgames.com/community/2012/10/cliff-bleszinski-departs-epic/|archive-date=October 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-out-at-epic-games/1100-6397630/ |title=Cliff Bleszinski out at Epic Games |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=October 3, 2012 |access-date=October 8, 2012 |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226201725/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/cliff-bleszinski-out-at-epic-games/1100-6397630/ |archive-date=December 26, 2013 }}</ref> According to a 2015 interview, his original intention was to retire permanently. "I honestly thought I was done... It was a combination of gamers feeling jaded, as well as working with some very talented people who were also very jaded," Bleszinski told [[Destructoid]]. "I could pitch the most amazing idea to anybody back when I was at Epic toward the end, and they'd be like 'I don't buy it,'" he added.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/cliff-bleszinski-says-he-retired-because-everyone-was-too-jaded-308782.phtml |title=Cliff Bleszinski says he retired because everyone was too jaded |last=Makedonski |first=Brett |date=September 1, 2015 |website=[[Destructoid]] |access-date=July 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817080953/https://www.destructoid.com/cliff-bleszinski-says-he-retired-because-everyone-was-too-jaded-308782.phtml |archive-date=August 17, 2016  }}</ref>

=== Boss Key Productions (2014–2018) ===
On June 30, 2014, Cliff announced on Twitter that he was "coming out of retirement to make video games again" and would be unveiling his next project in the next week.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-30-cliff-bleszinski-says-hes-coming-out-of-retirement |title=Cliff Bleszinski says he's "coming out of retirement" |last=Matulef |first=Jeffrey |date=June 30, 2014 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=July 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802123719/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-30-cliff-bleszinski-says-hes-coming-out-of-retirement |archive-date=August 2, 2017  }}</ref> The new game, a [[free-to-play]], PC-focused arena shooter code-named ''BlueStreak'', would be published by [[Nexon]] and developed by his new studio, [[Boss Key Productions]], which he co-founded with Brussee the same year.<ref name="ign">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/08/gears-of-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-announces-f2p-shooter-bluestreak |title=Gear of War Designer Cliff Bleszinski announces F2P shooter BlueStreak |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=July 28, 2014 |first=Evan |last=Campbell |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727162834/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/08/gears-of-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-announces-f2p-shooter-bluestreak |archive-date=July 27, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="polygon">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/4/5871047/cliff-bleszinski-boss-key-productions|title=Cliff Bleszinski creates Boss Key game studio with Guerrilla Games co-founder|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|publisher=[[Vox Media]]|date=July 4, 2014|access-date=July 31, 2014|first=Alexa Ray|last=Corriea|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808041419/http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/4/5871047/cliff-bleszinski-boss-key-productions|archive-date=August 8, 2014}}</ref> A year later, Bleszinski revealed that the arena shooter would be called ''[[LawBreakers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/26/9208067/cliff-bleszinski-new-game-lawbreakers |title=LawBreakers is the next game from Gears designer Cliff Bleszinski |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=August 26, 2015 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=August 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802125820/https://www.theverge.com/2015/8/26/9208067/cliff-bleszinski-new-game-lawbreakers |archive-date=August 2, 2017  }}</ref>

In May 2016, he joined the board of advisers for [[Fig (company)|Fig]], a mixed crowdfunding/investment platform for video games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-invests-in-/1100-6439670/ |title=Gears of War Designer Cliff Bleszinski Invests in New Crowdfunding Site Fig |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=May 10, 2016 |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=August 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823205321/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-designer-cliff-bleszinski-invests-in-/1100-6439670/ |archive-date=August 23, 2017  }}</ref>

On May 14, 2018, Bleszinski announced the dissolution of Boss Key Productions, citing lackluster sales.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/therealcliffyb/status/996092708971274245/photo/1|access-date=May 14, 2018|first=Cliff|last=Bleszinski|title=A statement|website=[[Twitter]]}}</ref>

=== Later career (2018–present) ===
After the closure of Boss Key, Bleszinski has gotten involved with theater production. He invested and co-produced ''[[Hadestown (musical)|Hadestown]]'', and was similarly involved with a revival of ''[[Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune]]''.<ref name="makuch">{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/whats-cliff-bleszinski-the-creator-of-gears-of-war/1100-6468249/ | title = What's Cliff Bleszinski, The Creator Of Gears Of War, Up To These Days? A Lot| first = Eddie | last = Makuch | date = July 7, 2019 | access-date = July 7, 2019 | work = [[GameSpot]] }}</ref>
He has also expressed interest in returning to the ''Gears of War'' series as an adviser.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://mobile.twitter.com/therealcliffyb/status/1225254352593596416 | title = Offer Still Stands To Consult On The Gears Franchise, Microsoft| first = Cliff | last = Bleszinski | date = February 5, 2020 | access-date = February 7, 2020 | work = [[Twitter]] }}</ref>

His memoir, ''Control Freak: My Epic Adventure Making Video Games'', was published in November 2022 by [[Simon & Schuster]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teuton |first=Christopher |date=November 1, 2022 |title=Cliff Bleszinski Interview: Control Freak |url=https://screenrant.com/cliff-bleszinski-interview-control-freak/ |access-date=November 14, 2022 |website=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref>

In April 2023, Bleszinski announced that he was writing a comic book series titled ''Scrapper'' in collaboration with Alex De Campi, with illustrations by Sandy Jarrell. Its first issue will be released on July 19 by  [[Image Comics]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Rory |date= April 18, 2023 |title=Former Gears of War Lead Cliff Bleszinski Announces First Comic Book |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/cliff-bleszinski-comic-book-scrapper/ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]]}}</ref>