Examples where key people return to franchises after time away

[Zor]

I thought it was really cool that Joseph Staten is back on HALO, helping out with the launch of Infinity.

Joe was obviously a key part of the HALO franchise from the beginning, but had left Bungie and was doing his own thing well before 343 released HALO.

In his time away, 343 obviously released the fourth and fifth games, and now he's back in the mix for the next entry in a key role.

I was wondering if anyone knew any other examples in the industry where this happened?

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Cory Barlog left after directing God of War 2 and then returned for God of War PS4

 

[Cranster]

Casey Hudson at Bioware is one.

 

[Zor]

Corey Barlog left after directing God of War 2 and then returned for God of War PS4

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Oh God, yes, of course! I was having a real braindead moment trying to think of anyone else.

 

[Sign My Guestbook!]

Cory Barlog left after directing God of War 2 and then returned for God of War PS4

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This was my first thought too. Glad he came back, did a great job.

 

[garion333]

Casey Hudson at Bioware is one.

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Correct, buuuuuuuut the game he was working on was canned and he left again.

 

[Eamon]

Casey Hudson returning to Bioware was one such instance - for me, especially since it was announced that Mass Effect would be returning with a new untitled installment. Unfortunately, he left after it was announced so he wont be around for much of its development (if any of it)

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Ron Gilbert, Tales of Monkey Island

 

[ThisThingIsUseful]

I wish the case was in high-quality, but it says under Sweet Tooth's car, "From the creators of Twisted Metal 1 and 2."

You had Jaffe do 1 and 2, then 989 Studios took over 3 and 4. I remember a lot of hype for 3 since it seemed graphically a big step up from 1 and 2, but then people played it.

My brother was at the store trying to buy me Dynasty Warriors 2. He called me and said, "I don't see DW2, but you know what I see? Twisted Metal Black. It says it's from the creators of 1 and 2."

I gave him the OK to buy that instead, and the rest is history.

 

[Djalminha]

Drew Murray recently returned to Insomniac.

 

[PumpkinPieAddict]

Arguably Hideo Kojima with every Metal Gear Solid after 2. More specifically MGS4 where he tried to give it to his team but it didn't go anywhere.

 

[Tawpgun]

Joe joined MS right after Destiny 1 shipped. Worked on crackdown and recore. Was probably fairly easy to get him a stint at 343

 

[WestEgg]

They still need to actually follow through, but there were a lot of people relieved that Metroid Prime 4 was given back to Retro Studios rather than Bandai Namco.

 

[Starlatine]

obsidian working on fallout new vegas

 

[Zor]

Joe joined MS right after Destiny 1 shipped. Worked on crackdown and recore. Was probably fairly easy to get him a stint at 343

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I still want to know what that game looked like a year from release.

 

[Jroc]

Some of the IW staff from Respawn went back to IW for Modern Warfare 2019.