Epic Game’s chief creative officer Donald Mustard has announced his retirement today on Twitter. Mustard has spent the past seven years working with Epic Games on Fortnite, and largely contributing to the game being the worldwide success it’s come to claim. 

“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.”

Mustard founded Chair Entertainment in 2005, based in Salt Lake City, they were subsequently purchased in 2009 from Epic Games. Mustard was the director for the 2009 title Shadow Complex, a metroidvania game. 

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

By 2010, Chair Entertainment along with Mustard went on to create one of the most visually stunning iOS mobile games, Infinity Blade, solidifying the iPhone as both a technical powerhouse, and a worthy contender for legitimate mobile gaming. 

In the subsequent years, Chair released two sequels, Infinity Blade II, and Infinity Blade III, until ultimately deciding in 2013 to cancel Infinity Blade Dungeons. Epic Games eventually removed the titles from the iOS store in 2018.

By 2017 when Fortnite released, as a standout free-to-play battle royale, up against another standout popular game PUBG, Mustard was consequential in many of the early themes, lore, and stylization that gave Fortnite its overnight success. 

It’s unclear currently who will take Mustard’s place, and what will be next in terms of Fortnite’s future without a driving lead for the past seven years.