Jon Shafer Has Left Paradox After Six Months Over Creative Differences

Jordan Boyd November 18, 2017 2:05 PM EST

Jon Shafer, the lead designer behind Civilization V, has parted ways with Paradox Interactive after being with the company for six months.

Jon Shafer, the lead designer behind Civilization V, has parted ways with Paradox Interactive over some creative differences according to a statement made by the company.

Shafer was hired by the company back in May to work on an unannounced project. Before joining the team over at Paradox, Shafer worked alongside Firaxis Games, the studio behind some of the best strategy games around such as XCOM as well as the Civilization series. Afterwards, he moved on to Stardock that produced titles like Sins of a Solar Empire and the Galactic Civilizations series.

Back in 2013, Shafer’s studio Conifer Games raised over $100,000 for their Kickstarter title At the Gates. A game that would put you in the role of a barbarian empire trying to build during the fall of the Roman Empire. The title still has yet to be released. As of right now, there’s no word on where Shafer may end up next.

If you’re unfamiliar with Paradox Interactive, they’ve developed and published a slew of fantastic strategy titles like Europa Universalis IV, Cities: Skyline, Crusader Kings II, and they were the original publisher of my personal favorite, Mount & Blade: Warband. The studio is no stranger to strategy games so joining up with Shafer initially appeared to have been a good match.