Teddy Dief leaves Square Enix Montreal
Project's cancellation sees Hyper Light Drifter producer return to full-time indie development
Teddy Dief's stint at Square Enix Montreal has ended. The Hyper Light Drifter team member announced on his website today that he left his position as creative director at Square Enix Montreal after the project he'd been working on was cancelled.
"My team were working on a game that I deeply wish we could have shared with you. But the business strategy of the studio shifted, and our project was sadly no longer compatible," Dief said. "Thankfully, the talented team remain employed and valued, assigned to other projects. Because of this shift and the loss of our project, I no longer feel this is the place for me to pursue the type of work I aspire to make - the avenues of storytelling in game design I've been trying to explore in my career."
Dief joined the studio about a year and a half ago, alongside another notable indie developer, Fez programmer Renaud Bédard. Dief said he and Bédard co-started the project that was cancelled.
As for what happens now, Dief said he will move back to Los Angeles, where he will once more work on indie games full-time.