Former The Initiative co-founder Drew Murray has rejoined Insomniac Games as principal designer, having worked there previously for 10 years.
Murray was previously an attorney at Jones Day for five years, until joining Insomniac Games in 2005. He started as a designer on Resistance: Fall of Man then Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, and would become a senior and lead designer on Resistance 2 and 3 respectively. He was the game director on Sunset Overdrive, and would co-found The Initiative in 2018.
He had announced he was leaving The Initiative on February 1st, citing “my life outside of work needs more attention and headspace than I have been able to give it.” Now, Murray has announced that he is returning to Insomniac Games.
“I guess ten years, five games, and six job titles just wasn’t enough. I’m excited to be rejoining many friends and former colleagues at @insomniacgames as a Principal Designer. That takes me to my seventh job title; now I just need to work some days and make some games, right?”
Some were surprised how easily Murray could return to a PlayStation-owned studio after having worked at a Microsoft owned one. One Twitter user asked if there was any form of Union Trade Secrets Act for games development. “I very, very rarely hear of any real disputes around it,” Murray explained. “The only trade secret I have is ‘keep making it until it’s good.'”
Insomniac Games’ next project is Ratchet & Clank: Rift, launching June 11th on PlayStation 5. Recent titles include Marvel’s Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Stormland.
Having acted as Perfect Dark‘s lead designer, some may feel the project will encounter some difficulties. Development may have also been hindered by the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus quarantine orders.
Perfect Dark is coming soon to Windows PC and Xbox Series X|S.
