Breaking: ArenaNet co-founder leaves NCsoft

by Shawn Schuster Aug 11th 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Aion, Guild Wars, MMO industry, Guild Wars 2

MMORPG.com is reporting that both Jeff Strain and David Reid have recently departed NCsoft West. Strain, the President of Product Development for the newly-restructured NCsoft West and Reid, the President of Publishing are both said to have left for "unrelated" reasons.

Jeff Strain has always been much more than just a co-founder of ArenaNet, as his visions have driven the company to spectacular feats with their blockbuster title Guild Wars. David Reid was brought on last year with the newly-announced NC West, which aimed to re-structure the company on the tails of Tabula Rasa's closing. Does this spell even more bad news for NCsoft, only a month before they launch Aion? According to a press release from NCsoft West Public Relations Director Ryan James, "These changes do not influence any other teams, development schedules or other launches." That may be true, but it's the reputation that seems to be in the most trouble now. We wish Mr. Strain and Mr. Reid the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Tags: arenanet, breaking, breakingnews, david-reid, guild-wars, guild-wars-2, jeff-strain, ncsoft, ncwest

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Tom said on 5:12PM 8-11-2009

I really think Strain, in particular, knew how to make Guild Wars the great success that it was. I wish him well. I am guessing that whatever game or company he moves onto next is going to prosper, since I think he really has a good sense of what many gamers are looking for: accessible, quality, non-grindy fun. Guild Wars was and still is my favorite online game.

As for the future of Guild Wars 2, this does not seem -- to me -- like a very promising development. :(

Lateris said on 5:18PM 8-11-2009

Ah fraking Jesus...this is nto good. I wish guild wars would leave ncsoft.

popowrx said on 5:51PM 8-11-2009

Maybe not all is well in Guild Wars 2 land?

bak said on 6:33PM 8-11-2009

Hope not but it sure seems shaky right now... I'll be very sad.

GaaaaaH said on 11:49PM 8-11-2009

This makes me sad too

pogger said on 5:57PM 8-11-2009

Someone should start a petition to have GW/GW2 divorce NCSoft. NCS is already putting all their eggs in the Failon basket.

Mr Angry said on 5:58PM 8-11-2009

Yup I was thinking that, GW2 has always been a bit tentative, so who knows. It's a real shame, as that genre had a very good foundation and is one IP that would benefit for a bit of a reboot!

Amana said on 6:09PM 8-11-2009

I have a gaming magazine from *March 2007* that front-paged Guild Wars 2 development.. yikes has it been that long?

Vulturion said on 6:23PM 8-11-2009

The PC Gamer special?! I can see that on my shelf right now!

Yep; it's been both that long and too long... hoping for some good news soon.

derella said on 6:29PM 8-11-2009

The silence from Anet regarding GW2 just become deafening.

Macabre said on 6:36PM 8-11-2009

I would be such a sad panda if GW2 fails to see the light of day...

I'm looking forward to that almost more than D3 (yikes!).

Graill said on 6:46PM 8-11-2009

SPinspinspinsspinspin...."unrelated reasons"...Spinspinspinspinspin......

Arnie said on 7:59PM 8-11-2009

Jeff Strain was not only instrumental in making Guild Wars he was also instrumental in the 800Tonne Gorilla in the MMO world WoW. I remember when they had finished WoW and he had left Blizzard to start ArenaNet. I remember some of his earlier video interviews when they had initially started showing Guild Wars & even then he had the vision for making a good MMO.
In the interview he had stated some of the technical shortcomings of WoW and how he had hoped to improve them in GW. It was one of those things which lead to dynamic updating in GW in which the client is always downloading new stuff in the background and very very few files are needed in the initial patches. Also, I remember how he had said that by putting most of the AI related files and related code, they could minimize exploitation in the game and also minimize hacking.
I am not sure what this means for GW2 cause he had moved to a higher position in the company(NCSoft) and might not have been involved in the making of GW2 at least on a day to day basis. However, he still worked from the Washington office of Anet and therefore at the very least would have kept a lookout for his original baby. I love GW and think of it as one of the best MMOs ever (although my knowledge is limited) & although I am sure this will affect GW2 in some way, I can only remain hopeful that it does not have too much of a negative impact.
Also, I wish him the best and I know he has the tech chops and experience to make something great wherever he ends up(A new company perhaps?)
Someone, get an interview with this guy & some details on this.

Starman said on 8:07PM 8-11-2009

Houston we have a problem..... Time for Arenanet to distance themselves from NCSoft.

Cray said on 10:02PM 8-11-2009

Arenanet needs to divorce NCsoft as soon as possible or they better start divulging information regarding Guild Wars 2. These departures and the utter silence of GW2 is deafening.

Goonja said on 10:55PM 8-11-2009

GW2 was under the direction of Mike O'Brien while Jeff Strain was the President of NCSoft.The way they put things looks like Strain left NCSoft not ArenaNet.If Wyatt,O'Brien and Strain are still the backbone of ArenaNet then we have nothing to fear even if that news sound like somekind of a whistleblower.

A few more weeks and I guess everything will become clearer.

CindyL said on 12:25AM 8-12-2009

Err yah I wouldn't call doom until we have more info. It's sad if Strain left for something else altogether but I'd be surprised if he wasn't involved with Arenanet still... O.o

CindyL said on 12:37AM 8-12-2009

Replying to myself :) If you look at the GW wiki Mike O'Brien left a note pretty much saying that Jeff has not been involved in GW2 at all since a year ago, that he is sad to see Jeff go from NCsoft but wishes him well ect....

Sounds like Jeff is going somewhere else entirely and not returning to ArenaNet. This should NOT impact Guild Wars 2 though, it is still being worked on :)