Far Cry 2, Splinter Cell designer departs Valve after just 18 months

Clint Hocking has left Valve, around 18 months after the former LucasArts boss joined the Seattle developer.

Hocking noted his departure from Valve on his personal blog and LinkedIn profile, but did not provide an explanation or list a new role.

First widely celebrated for his level design work on the original Splinter Cell series, Hocking went on to serve as creative director on the lauded Far Cry 2. He left Ubisoft in May 2010, citing concerns he had become complacent, and joined LucasArts in August of the same year to work on unannounced projects as a creative director.

Hocking toiled away at LucasArts before leaving in June 2012, well ahead of the company's October acquisition by Disney. Whatever he was working on during this time was not revealed, which is not unexpected given the company's history of unreleased projects, and now may never be.

He then popped up at Valve in July 2012. We don't know what he was working on there, either, except that he served as a designer and level designer. Given his experience with shooters, we had hoped to see his name pop up on the long-awaited Half-life 3, which certainly needs something pretty special to live up to the hype, but Left 4 Dead 3 is another possibility.

Gossip types may enjoy speculating on whether Hocking's departure is related to Half-life's progress or lack of it, or Valve's surprising shedding of key staff last year.

Thanks, GameInformer.