Xbox Co-Creator Seamus Blackley Returns To Game Development

Seamus Blackley, who was instrumental in the development of Microsoft's original Xbox console, will leave his role at the Creative Artists Agency to found a new video game production company. According to Variety, Blackley's role at the agency -- leading the CAA Games group that represents video game creators -- will be handled by David Stelzer and Ophir Lupu. Clients of CAA Games include Insomniac, Respawn Entertainment, Ken Levine, Patrice Desilets, Will the Stupid Fun Club, thatgamecompany, and Team Bondi, among others, says Variety. Blackley left Microsoft in 2002 to return to game development, saying "it's been extremely frustrating for me to not be making games." His credits prior to joining Microsoft include the original System Shock and Trespasser: Jurassic Park. The result was the formation of Capital Entertainment Group, which he co-founded with fellow Xbox veteran Kevin Bachus. The company folded in 2004 without releasing a game. He has been at the Creative Artists Agency as a talent agent since. Notable deals Blackley has landed for his clients include the funding of Grasshopper Manufacture's Shadows of the Damned and the sale of Harmonix to Viacom, according to Variety.