Ryan Payton, a man who has been instrumental in the production of Metal Gear Solid 4, has resigned from his post to pursue a career that will keep him closer to his family. The assistant producer is credited as the man who brought a more Western approach to MGS4's control scheme, helping to broaden the game's appeal, as well as the minds of his colleagues.

Payton has not dropped any indication of where he'll end up, but his chief ambition is to get an original game concept green lit, and states that he has lots of ideas. He also shares a regret that he won't get to work on Metal Gear Solid 5:

It'll be hard not being involved in MGS5, but I've got the utmost confidence that Hideo Kojima, Ken Imaizumi, and our amazing team will put together another blockbuster game. I'll be cheering from the sidelines.

Metal Gear Solid 5 for Xbox 360 CONFIRMED!

Payton was a very prominent figure during MGS4's development, and his comments were regularly seen in the press during the run up to the game's release. Wherever he goes, Payton is sure to find himself in a comfortable position, and hopefully he'll get those games of his made.