Donald Mustard is leaving Epic Games: Fortnite’s Most Visible Face Steps Down

Donald Mustard is, or rather was, one of the most visible faces of Epic Games and one of the most responsible for Fortnite, the company’s biggest success. This Friday, Mustard announced that he is leaving the company.

One of the fathers of Fortnite is retiring: Donald Mustard is leaving Epic Games.

Donald Mustard (1976) joined Epic Games through acquisition, as Epic bought Chair Entertainment, the company Mustard co-founded. At Chair, Mustard worked on titles such as Undertow, Shadow Complex, and the Infinity Blade trilogy for the iPhone. After this period, Donald Mustard took on the role of creative director at Epic Games, where he was mainly responsible for Fortnite. On Friday, September 8, 2023, he announced his departure from the company through a statement on his X/Twitter account:

“After an incredible adventure, I will be retiring from my role as Chief Creative Officer at Epic this month,” his Twitter post begins. “I have enjoyed nearly 25 years in the game industry collaborating with some of the most talented people ever and I am so proud of what we have made together. From the ambitious Advent Rising, to the start of ChAIR where we created Undertow, Shadow Complex, and the Infinity Blade trilogy, to the honor of our tiny team becoming part of Epic, each new chapter allowed me to accomplish something new and original. I am especially proud of the opportunity I’ve had to help create and shape Fortnite.”

“I am humbled to have been a part of the team that every day tries to bring ‘joy and delight’ to the Fortnite community! We love watching you experience every moment - leaping from the Battle Bus for the very first time, seeing the rocket crack open the sky, dancing with friends after a Victory Royale, being sucked into a black hole or being washed out to sea as The Island flipped over - and on and on! I can’t wait to now share in the future of Fortnite as a player alongside all of you! The teams are in the best hands and they are working on huge, jaw dropping, amazing things!!! I’m excited to spend time with my wife and family and am forever grateful for Tim Sweeney and the Epic Games family,” Mustard concluded.

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Mustard was well liked by the Fortnite community, and gained some notoriety on social media for his tendency to post and camouflage teasers of upcoming collaborations and in-game outfits in images seemingly unrelated to the video game.

Fortnite is currently in its Chapter 4 Season 4. If you add up all the seasons, it would be season number twenty-six, as the game was released in September 2017. The launch of Fortnite and its transition into a battle royale video game has meant tremendous growth for Epic Games, which was worth $825 million in 2012.