CliffyB Returns to Game Development, But Don't Expect Another PvP Shooter

July 18, 2026 - 18:18

Cliff Bleszinski, better known as CliffyB, is working on a new game. But if you are hoping for another competitive multiplayer shooter like LawBreakers or Gears of War, you will be disappointed. The veteran designer has confirmed that his next project will not feature player-versus-player combat at all.

Bleszinski made his name with fast-paced, arena-style shooters. He helped define the cover-based mechanics of Gears of War and later tried to revive the class-based arena shooter genre with LawBreakers. That game, despite strong mechanics, failed to find a large audience and ultimately shut down. Since then, Bleszinski has been mostly quiet about his return to game development.

In a recent update, he said the new game is something different. He wants to focus on a single-player or cooperative experience. The decision seems deliberate. After years of making games built around competitive multiplayer, he appears ready to step away from that space. The market for PvP shooters is crowded, and even established franchises struggle to keep players engaged.

No details have been shared about the setting, genre, or release window. Bleszinski has only said the project is early in development. For fans of his older work, this shift might feel surprising. But for a designer who has spent decades in the competitive shooter scene, a change of pace could be exactly what he needs.