Rocksteady Studios Co-Founders Sefton Hill And Jamie Walker Announce Departure

Sefton Hill, co-founder of Rocksteady Studios and Jamie Walker announced their departure from the company. 

It’s not surprising that Hill is the director for Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. Hill and Hill were also the original founders and creators of Batman Arkham. The two will be leaving Rocksteady at the close of the year, however, with confidence in their team to lead Suicide Squad through the finish line. 

The complete statement is here: 

Rocksteady Studios is a company I am excited to announce. Jamie Walker, Sefton Hill (co-founders) and Jamie Walker (studio heads), have announced that they will be leaving the studio. Our proudest moment was working alongside Jamie Hill and Sefton who led the talented teams that created some of our favorite games. They have led the team in many ways, including the highly acclaimed Batman Arkham series and their innovative thinking with Suicide Squad. Visiting Rocksteady Studios has always been a highlight for me personally – the attention to detail, the energy of the people and a sense of what it is like to be in a high performing studio. The company has a strong culture that cares about its employees and is committed to game development excellence. They have decided that Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League is almost over and they will embark on a new journey in gaming. Jamie and Sefton are our greatest admirers and we wish them the very best. 

Rocksteady has a strong leadership team, with seasoned studio leaders being promoted to lead the company. We are delighted to announce that Nathan Burlow (long-standing Rocksteady Director for Production) will assume the position of Studio Director, while Darius Sadeghian, who was the original founder of Rocksteady, will be taking the reins as the Studio Product Director. Both Nathan and Darius have a wealth of experience and are committed to ensuring that Rocksteady continues its high-quality development for Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League as well as future titles. 

Jamie and Sefton are best, as is Nathan and Darius. So they shared their opinions below. 

“Our decision to leave Rocksteady was emotional to say the least! Rocksteady was our home and heart from the moment we started the company back in 2004. We have been able to enjoy what we are passionate about: making great games together with extremely talented people. The games that we all have made together are amazing, including our very first, Urban Chaos. We also loved Arkham and the Suicide Squad. 

Rocksteady has something more. It’s not just about the games, it is what everyone feels. It’s the incredible moments that we’ve shared over the years, the friendships made, and the care this team has for each other that have made this unforgettable journey so special. Rocksteady T shirts can be worn with pride by people because of how they treat each other. The team deserves our appreciation for all they do to make the Rocksteady a wonderful place. 

We are proudest of the team’s talent and energy. This includes the opportunity to work on Batman with Warner Bros., DC, and Arkham Games. It also gave us the opportunity to collaborate with some childhood heroes. Finally, it allowed us to give back to this industry by supporting budding game makers and building a community where everyone can be themselves, making great games together. 

Rocksteady fans are a very important ingredient to all this. They are the ones who fuel us with their enthusiasm and support of what we do. We are grateful to them for their support over the past 18 years. Suicide Squad is now safe and our team has grown stronger, so it’s time for us all to give up the reigns and start a new adventure. 

Over many years, Nathan and Darius have proven their dedication to Rocksteady. These two veterans are well-known in the industry. We trust their passion for Rocksteady as well as their energy and talent will lead them to great heights. They are the leaders of the future and we couldn’t be more happy for them. We wish them every success.” 

– Jamie Walker & Sefton Hill

“Having worked with Jamie and Sefton as one of the founding members of the studio, I want to thank them for creating what I consider to be one of the best games development studios in the industry. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside them and I wish them all the very best in the future. Darius and I are very grateful for the chance to keep Rocksteady running. My mission is to be there for our team of talented and hardworking people, while also maintaining the studio’s incredible culture. We are looking forward to building upon our successes with the upcoming release of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and our future games.” 

Nathan Burlow, Studios Director

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead and support the amazing, creative and talented team at Rocksteady. The team’s enthusiasm and collective energy has driven me throughout my entire career with the studio. Jamie and Sefton deserve my sincere gratitude for their support over the years and the special time spent together. My commitment and goal are to continue building upon Rocksteady’s legacy for delivering innovative and world-class game experiences.” 

– Darius Sadeghian, Studio Product Director

Jamie, Nathan, Sefton and Darius are all people I want to express my gratitude for their dedication to this transition. Join me in wishing Jamie, Sefton and Nathan all the very best. 

David

The duo will be at Rocksteady for the remainder of the year, before they embark on “a new journey in gaming.” The Suicide Squad will be released sometime in spring 2023. Rocksteady will no longer be producing the original Rocksteady lineup. Nathan Burlow (longtime director of Production) will assume the new role as studio director. Darius Sadeghian is the studio producer director.