Bioware Co-Founders, Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk have announced that they are leaving the games industry. Both Ray and Greg have written farewell letters via the Bioware website to explain their decisions and what they see in their futures. They both express positive memories of their careers in the games industry and thank the many people who they engaged with during their time at Bioware, including each other.

Ray's letter explains that he is leaving the industry 'with tremendously positive memories', from the early Bioware days, to the company's eventual acquisition by EA. Going on to say that he has 'largely personally achieved what I wanted in videogames; I now desire to take on a brand new entrepreneurial challenge'. This challenge, Ray explains, will be related to impact investing, as he wants to invest in and mentor entrepreneurs, in the hope of creating positive social change.

He also mentioned that he will be focusing more on several charitable causes such as 'getting involved with more charities in education, health care, and animal rights.' He goes on to say that he is 'passionate about both entrepreneurship and social liberty, and I want to find a way to pursue both of them.'

Greg's parting words also thanked the many people and companies who contributed to his personal success and the many achievements of the company he co-founded: 'Building BioWare over the years with Ray and the many other people involved was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’ll cherish it always.'

He wrote that he would now be 'spending significant time with family and friends, as well as pursuing some personal passion-driven projects related to craft beer.' Clarifying his personal project by stating that he will be working on 'a web-based interview show called The Beer Diaries where I interview notable brewers and showcase their beers'. Greg didn't rule out a return to the games industry but said there is 'a strong possibility that I won’t be back.'

It appears Greg and Ray, although having a shared passion for games, clearly are not completely alike. They appear to be pursuing entirely different interests and goals. Regardless of what their futures entail, they have contributed more to video games than most could ever dream of, so for that, we must surely thank them.

General Manager of Bioware Edmonton and Montreal, Aaron Flynn, didn't want to end the day on a completely sombre note though, so he has written his own message on behalf of Bioware, focusing on the future of the company. He took the time to pay homage to the Bioware co-founders before looking to the future. Flynn wanted to calm any fears that Ray and Greg's departures would mean the end of Bioware, stating that 'the studio is solid and the team here is ready to embark on a whole new era of games.'

Flynn mentioned the recent formal announcement of Dragon Age III: Inquisition and the continued support of Mass Effect 3 as evidence of Bioware's willingness to continue creating high profile games. He also spoke of the possibility of a new Mass Effect, explaining that 'Casey and our teams have plans for another full game'. Fans are encourage to suggest ideas for where the franchise could potentially go in the future.

Finally, as well as a potentially new Mass Effect, Flynn also mentioned that some of Bioware's lead designers are planning 'an all new game set in a fictional universe, built from the bottom-up with all new gaming technology.' It's always nice to hear about the production of a new IP. Flynn didn't go into anymore detail on the project but hopefully we'll hear some more details soon.

In closing, let's again express appreciation for the contributions Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk have made to the medium we enjoy so much. Good luck to you both, in all your future endeavors.