Will Wright, one of the most renowned game designers in the world, is leaving Electronic Arts and Maxis to focus on Stupid Fun Club, an "entertainment think tank" he founded in 2001.

Wright has been at Electronic Arts for 12 years and created some of the company's most profitable titles, including The Sims and Spore.

EA announced Wright's departure today, saying it has invested in Stupid Fun Club to become an equal partner in the venture with Wright.

Berkeley-based Stupid Fun Club was originally formed as a robotics workshop, but is now described as "developing new Intellectual Properties to be deployed across multiple fronts including video games, movies, television, the internet, and toys."

EA said it holds first rights to develop game concepts that come from Stupid Fun Club projects.

"The entertainment industry is moving rapidly into an era of revolutionary change," Wright said in a statement. "Stupid Fun Club will explore new possibilities that are emerging from this sublime chaos and create new forms of entertainment of a variety of platforms."

Wright's departure is likely a bid for creative autonomy and removal of EA oversight for the notoriously innovative game designer, although no specific reason for his leaving was given.

Lucy Bradshow, veep and general manager of EA-owned Maxis will continue to helm the operation and the Spore franchise. Rod Humble, head of EA's Play label and his team will launch The Sims 3 in June of this year. ®