Torchlight creators depart Runic Games

Runic games co-founder Travis Baldree has announced that he and his partner Erich Schaefer are leaving the Torchlight studio.

Baldree revealed the double departure on the firm’s official forums, stressing that this was an "amicable departure". The pair will return to "smaller-scale" independent development – seemingly under the name Double Damage Games if Baldree’s new email address is anything to go by.

"Working within the boundaries of limited means and resources is the best fun I’ve ever had, and that sort of work satisfies me in a fundamental way – I can’t wait to be working that way again," Baldree wrote about his return to indie development.

The exec assured Torchlight fans that Runic Games is in good hands, praising the team that he now leaves behind.

"I feel more than confident in their ability to continue to excel, drawing on all of their collective talent," he wrote. "I’m executed for the world to see the project they are working on now, and I know it will be spectacular when you get to play it for yourselves."

Baldree and Schaefer co-founded Runic Games back in 2008, with the former serving as President and lead engineer. The studio is best known for the popular download RPG series Torchlight.

Their last day will be April 2nd.

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