Cliff Bleszinski Reflects on LawBreakers’ Downfall: Ego and Missteps

LawBreakers, a game that many believed had the potential to shine, ended up flopping commercially after its release in 2017. The game’s developer, Boss Key Productions, closed its doors just a year later, leaving fans and critics to ponder what went wrong. One of the key figures behind the game, Cliff Bleszinski, who co-founded Boss Key and is known for his work on Gears of War, recently opened up about the factors that contributed to this failure in an interview.

Bleszinski admitted that his personal ego played a significant role in the studio’s direction. He had a strong desire to make Boss Key entirely his own, which led him to miss out on collaborating with Rod Fergusson, a pivotal figure from his Gears of War days. “I thought if I built it as Cliff, people would naturally flock to it,” he explained, realizing too late that while players may appreciate him, their loyalty lies primarily with the game itself.

He also pointed out that the publishing deal with Nexon was misaligned with the studio’s goals. While Boss Key kept intellectual property rights, Bleszinski noted that an unbalanced deal often leads to a lack of motivation on the partner’s side to invest in the project’s success. “If one side benefits too much, the other might not push as hard to make it a hit,” he said, encapsulating one of the many hurdles they faced.

Bleszinski described the studio’s decline as “death by a thousand paper cuts.” He mentioned several factors that contributed to LawBreakers’ failure, such as the need for better artistic direction, an earlier launch on Xbox to attract Gears of War fans, and personal struggles, including his battle with alcoholism. He reflected on his own involvement, admitting that he often left the office early while others worked late into the night.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, Bleszinski expressed a strong desire to return to game development. “At the end of the day, I want to create characters and worlds,” he shared, indicating that his passion for gaming and design is far from extinguished. He dreams of crafting experiences that resonate deeply with players, even inspiring them to cosplay or get tattoos based on his creations.