Three key employees behind Nintendo’s widely-successful Metroid Prime franchise have left development house Retro Studios. Series design director Mark Pacini, art director Todd Keller, and technology engineer Jack Mathews are longer with the company.

While the exact reasoning behind their departure is unknown at this point, Pacini said last year that the studio was “taking a break” from Metroid. Regardless, though, Retro is not closing and will continue to develop software titles.

Metroid Prime Talent Moves On [IGN]

Read more: Retro Takes A Break From Metroid, Ex-Metroid Prime Devs Form Armature Studio, Nintendo: No Metroid Dread, N’Gai Croal: Metroid Should Have Remained 2D, Metroid Site Teases “Another Side Story”