Sad if it is BUT he has been doing this now for a long time,everyone needs a change.
I wouldn't worry too much ,as long as the developers and programmers are still involved once the basics are down and working correctly developments will still appear.
Where there's a will there's a way ,look how il2 has been improved and given a new lease of life.
Good luck to Oleg if he does finish,maybe in time he will come back and have a renewed vigour.
Don't forget this is the beginning of the next step.