Driver: San Francisco studio director leaves

November 15, 2011 12:03PM PST

Ubisoft Reflections' Gareth Edmondson departs UK-based development house two months after the launch of latest multiplatform racer.

The managing director of the Driver: San Francisco developer has taken an exit. As reported by Develop, Gareth Edmondson has left UK-based Ubisoft Reflections just two months after shipping a revival of the studio's signature Driver franchise.

Edmondson is hitting the road.

A Ubisoft representative confirmed the departure for GameSpot, saying, "In the five years since Reflections has become a part of the Ubisoft team of studios, we have had the pleasure of working and creating together with Gareth Edmondson. Gareth has made the choice to leave the studio. Our team of talented developers at Reflections will continue their work on upcoming projects under the supervision of Giselle Stewart, studio manager, and Darren Yeomans, production director, until a permanent replacement has been named."

According to Develop, Edmondson will remain in the gaming industry in some capacity. The departing managing director is the brother of Reflections founder Martin Edmondson, who left the studio in 2004 but returned for the development of Driver: San Francisco.

For more on Reflections' latest, check out GameSpot's review of Driver: San Francisco.

By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Follow Follow @BrendanSinclair

7 comments

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blakeney

@SolidTy My bet is that Ubisoft ENFORCED "shiney new features" and made them run with the whole "seat switching" (ive forgot what they called it) idea, to bring this once great game into 2011 with a bang.

warhawk-geeby

As bad as this is at least it differs form the usual post-release headlines.. Could have quite easily said: "Ubisoft Reflections' Gareth Edmondson is laid off from UK-based development house two months after the launch of latest multiplatform racer." Seems to be the current trend with this economy :( Good that the man left of his own accord.

gamingfrendly

i guess he just wanted to see his game see day light as the last thing he will do in reflaction and after that he leavs but mybe there was something he didnt like with ubi wich made him go.

brok

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Hm1911

yeah the game was awesome, it was the best game in this series imo

Richmaester6907

Actually it hasn't been a big hit, I mean its sold decent enough but its not the smash hit they were hoping for but at least they made a good game.

pszone

The game sold a lot. I dont understand why he left any ideas why he left? anyways i hope there will be more driver games

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