Screenwriter Drew Karpyshyn announced that he is leaving Bioware studio and will stop working in the gaming industry. Karpishin explained this decision by saying that he was going to focus on non-fiction projects (novels and film scripts).

"I'm leaving so I can have more time to write novels and do other non-gaming projects. But even though I no longer work for BioWare, I don't intend to cut ties with them. Many of my friends still work at the studio , and I myself am now writing a new novel based on Star Wars: The Old Republic, but I can’t tell you about it yet,” Karpyshyn said on his blog. He also noted that his departure from the studio was completely voluntary. “It was 100 percent my decision,” the screenwriter added.

Drew Karpyshyn, a Canadian writer and screenwriter of Ukrainian origin, joined BioWare 12 years ago. During his time at the studio, he participated in the creation of such projects as Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic and others.

In addition, Karpishin gained fame as the author of books on many game universes. Among his most famous creations are Temple Hill (a book based on the Forgotten Realms setting of the Dungeons & Dragons universe), three books on the Mass Effect universe (Revelation, Ascension and Retribution), as well as several Star Wars novels, including Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan, released in 2011.

Currently, Karpyshyn is working not only on a new novel in the Star Wars universe, but also on the first book in the original Children of Fire series.

Mass Effect writer leaves BioWare