Having been around for nearly 14 years, Gears of War is an esteemed series that has often been led with conviction and dedication to fans. However, the series has seen change-ups in management, starting with creator Cliff Bleszinski's departure from original Gears developer Epic Games in 2012. Having been led by Rod Fergusson and The Coalition for the last few years, Gears has been in relatively safe hands. Now, with Rod Fergusson's sudden departure, one can't help but ask: Where will the series go now?
Rod Fergusson recently announced that he will be departing from The Coalition and Microsoft to join Blizzard for the Diablo franchise. While it seems like a solid jump for Fergusson, it leaves some Gears fans a bit confused and possibly worried about the future of the franchise.
Since Rod Fergusson began leading the Gears of War franchise after Bleszinski's exit, the series has gotten a few more installments, starting with the controversial Gears of War: Judgment. This was followed two years later by the mostly-praised Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, remaking the first Gears of War from the ground up. The next year, Gears of War 4 was released to massive acclaim and billed as a return to form. Then, the odd real-time multiplayer title Gears POP! was released for mobile devices. And, most recently, players saw the direct follow up to Gears of War 4 with Gears 5, which expanded on the established formula in surprising ways.
Fergusson's reign was successful for the most part, even if the games got their share of criticism from fans. Nonetheless, they kept the Gears gameplay formula that fans know and love.
Of course, now the leadership of the Gears franchise is in question. This isn't to say that it's all downhill from here, but we simply don't know who will take charge. Fergusson had been with the franchise for over a decade, so his name became the one to know. However, we have yet to meet or even see the face of the next person who will lead future Gears projects. With a movie in the works, Gears Tactics, and a likely Gears 6, there is much more content to be seen in the Gears universe, and hopefully, it is led well.
Game franchise leaders come and go routinely. Fergusson's departure wasn't exactly telegraphed but he did have a long career with the Gears series and is now off in a new direction. Here's to hoping that the Gears franchise sees equal success and evolution, going forward.