After almost five years working as an independent developer, Dear Esther developer Robert Briscoe has joined Valve Software.

In a post on his personal website, Briscoe explained that during his time in indie development he has had an increasing feeling of “isolation, both personally and professionally,” which led to his decision to join Valve.

“So I’ve decided I need a break from the solitary life I’ve been living these past years,” Briscoe wrote, in part. “I think I need to be around people for a while; A lot of my energy and enthusiasm comes from being in the presence of people, sharing different ideas, methods and techniques, different views, outlooks and inspirations, and mostly by just being out of my comfort zone – which I have very much slipped into.”

“As for my indie endeavours? I still have things I want to do in the future, both independently and with [The Chinese Room], so I know I’ll come back to it again someday, and have no doubt I will be still tinkering with stuff on the side for some time… but for now I think I just need a change… to make hats… cuz that’s what Valve do these days, right?”

Before creating Dear Esther, Briscoe worked at EA DICE in 2007 as an artist on Mirror’s Edge.

(via GI International)