Rise of the Tomb Raider director departs for Infinity Ward

Brian Horton, the director of Rise of the Tomb Raider, has left Crystal Dynamics for Infinity Ward.

Horton's departure was announced Friday by the official Tomb Raider tumblr; a listing on LinkedIn subsequently said he was now the studio art director for Infinity Ward, the Activision-owned developer of Call of Duty.

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"It's been a huge honor to be a part of the Tomb Raider franchise and the team at Crystal Dynamics," Horton said on the Tomb Raider tumblr. "I've met fans from all over the world, both in person and online, to share in our love for the franchise and Lara Croft. After working on two amazing games, my family and I have decided to return to Southern California and start a new adventure. As sad as I am to leave the team at Crystal, I'm excited to play their future games as a fan. Thanks again for the years of support and feedback and I hope to stay in touch with you all online."

Rise of the Tomb Raider, the second game in the Lara Croft continuity that Crystal Dynamics rebooted in 2013, launched to critical acclaim in November. It has since been nominated by the Writers Guild Awards, the Game Developers Choice Awards and DICE Awards.