Cliff Bleszinski Considered Taking Gears 4 First-Person Pre-Microsoft Acquisition

Former Epic Games designer, Cliff Bleszinski, recently revealed that he once considered making Gears of War 4 a first-person shooter before Microsoft's acquisition of the studio in 2014. Bleszinski spoke about his idea in a podcast interview, stating that he wanted to experiment with the game's perspective and gameplay mechanics.

According to Bleszinski, the original idea was to take the game's story in a different direction by focusing on the perspective of a new character. The designer stated that he believed the series could benefit from a fresh approach, and a first-person perspective would have been an exciting way to shake things up.

Bleszinski's vision was ultimately not realized, as Microsoft acquired the Gears of War franchise and its parent company, Epic Games, in 2014. The series continued as a third-person shooter, with Gears of War 4 being released in 2016.

Despite not implementing his idea, Bleszinski acknowledged that experimentation is an important aspect of game development. He emphasized the need for developers to take risks and try new things, as it can lead to unexpected and exciting results.

The Gears of War franchise has been a flagship series for Xbox consoles, with the first game being released in 2006. The series has since spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs, including the recently released Gears 5.

Bleszinski has had a significant impact on the gaming industry, having worked on multiple successful titles throughout his career, including Unreal Tournament, Jazz Jackrabbit, and LawBreakers. The designer's willingness to experiment and take risks has helped to shape the industry, and his legacy continues to influence developers today.

It remains to be seen whether Bleszinski's idea for a first-person Gears of War game will ever come to fruition, but his contributions to the gaming industry are undeniable. Developers will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, and fans can look forward to exciting new experiences in the years to come.