The game director behind Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, The Last of Us, and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is officially leaving Naughty Dog.

Bruce Straley has a long history with Naughty Dog. He joined the studio back in 1999, long before it was acquired by Sony. He worked as an artist on Crash Team Racing, the Jak and Daxter Trilogy, and Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. He then directed what are considered two of the best games of the seventh-generation of consoles, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and The Last of Us. Finally, in 2016, he directed Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Now, in 2017, his watch has ended.

Straley confirmed in a message that he is leaving the development studio after eighteen years. No word on what he'll do next, but we're sure he'll have no trouble getting work anywhere.

"I’m leaving Naughty Dog with the strongest team it’s ever had, and that’s saying a lot. But more than the talent, it’s the people that I’ll miss the most. The work culture at Naughty Dog is about getting out of your seat and solving problems together. It’s what has allowed me to build so many friendships and gain so much respect for this stellar group of people. I get it —“it’s just work” — but when you spend as much time as we do together, in the pressure cooker of creative work and deadlines, you really get to know a person. And I’ve had my share of difficult and humbling moments. But having the privilege to see people grow beyond their concept of what’s possible for themselves technically, creatively, and personally has been the most rewarding aspect of my job and continues to motivate me to do the same. I’m so proud to have been a part of this team. I can’t wait to see what they create in the future."

While Straley is leaving, Creative Director Neil Druckmann is remaining. The duo worked together on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. Though Druckmann will be working on The Last of Us Part II without Straley, we have no doubt he'll be able to pull if off. As for Straley, we wish him the best and can't wait to see what he does next!