Raven Software Co-Founder Brian Raffel Retires After 36-Year Career

Brian Raffel, co-founder of Raven Software, has announced his retirement after more than three decades in the games industry.

Raffel co-founded the Wisconsin-based studio in 1990 alongside his brother, Steve Raffel. He served as vice president from the beginning, later becoming studio head in 1997, and most recently held the role of co-studio head alongside Dave Pellas in 2024.

Following Raven Software’s acquisition by Activision in 1997, Raffel also took on the role of vice president at the publisher.

Reflecting on his career in a LinkedIn post, Raffel described the journey as unforgettable, expressing gratitude for the people, culture, and games created over the years. He also credited his brother Steve, calling their decision to build the studio and join Activision one of the best choices of their lives.

Raven Software paid tribute to Raffel’s leadership, highlighting his role in guiding the studio through decades of change in the industry. His work spanned titles such as Hexen, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, X-Men Legends, and Wolfenstein, helping establish the studio’s reputation and later contributing to the evolution of the Call of Duty franchise.

The studio also noted Raffel’s impact beyond game development, particularly his role in growing Madison, Wisconsin into a hub for game development and supporting aspiring developers through connections with the University of Wisconsin.

His retirement comes months after Raven Software employees ratified their first union contract with Microsoft, securing improvements such as better pay structures for QA workers and limits on mandatory overtime—marking a significant moment for labor conditions in the gaming industry.