James Ohlen, a veteran BioWare designer known for his work on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, has left Archetype Entertainment due to severe burnout. Ohlen revealed that his role as studio head took a heavy toll on his health and personal life.
Ohlen reveals six-year burnout battle
Ohlen said that running the studio nearly killed him. He described six years of running on fumes, hurting his health and personal life. He stated that he should never have been head of a studio because it was too much pressure, especially on a big budget title.
Ohlen also disclosed that he had pitched a reboot of Star Wars: The Old Republic titled 'Star Wars: The New Republic', which he described as a chance to do Knights of the Old Republic Online. The project was rejected by EA's board of directors, who remembered the $300 million launch of the original game and were unwilling to spend more.
Ohlen's departure from EXODUS is framed as a necessary reset for his health. He acknowledged that he might get talked into starting another studio, but said he would not put himself in that situation again. PC Gamer reported the story.
Archetype Entertainment has not commented on Ohlen's departure or the status of EXODUS. Ohlen's future plans remain unclear.
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