‘Father of Elder Scrolls’ steps back from game development because of cancer: ‘We are preparing to say goodbye to a true legend of the industry’

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Julian LeFay, who was a programmer and chief engineer at Bethesda until 1998, is taking a break from game development and his current project, The Wayward Realms. Due to his long-term battle with cancer, as confirmed by the CEO of OnceLost Games, Ted Peterson, LeFay has chosen to step away “in order to prioritize his health and spend his remaining time with his dear ones.

In an excited video, I shared some fantastic news and reminisced about my journey with Julian LeFay. Back in 1992, as a fresh graduate, I walked into Bethesda Softworks for an interview for a junior writer position – little did I know that this encounter would change the course of my life. Prior to this experience, I had never been part of a game development company before. When I left after our meeting, Julian jokingly said, “If you land the job, don’t forget to ditch that suit!

LeFay was an unusual character, standing tall and lean with a rough handsomeness, often sporting a default scowl. He had the most impressive pompadour mullet ever known in history. This extraordinary individual was a skilled and innovative programmer who excelled in hacking-style programming. His passion extended to traditional pen-and-paper roleplaying games, and it so happened that the game which eventually evolved into The Elder Scrolls 1: Arena was his cherished dream project.

Previously, Peterson has discussed how LeFay was instrumental in the creation of the initial Elder Scrolls series, which initially focused more on combat but gradually incorporated extensive roleplaying features. This transformation earned LeFay the nickname “the founder of Elder Scrolls.” Notably, LeFay also contributed to The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall and The Elder Scrolls: Battlespire before parting ways with Bethesda in 1998.

Peterson acknowledges that he could share tales about our friendship and our recent collaborations on Wayward Realms as creative and technical directors, but he wants to get straight to the point. The truth is, Julian has bravely been fighting cancer. Unfortunately, his doctors have informed us that his time among us is running out, and we are preparing ourselves to bid farewell to an undeniable industry legend.

As a fellow gamer, I’ve always admired Julian’s unwavering commitment to The Wayward Realms and our gaming community. Despite the challenges we’ve faced, he’s been relentless in bringing ‘The Grand RPG’ to life. Unfortunately, health concerns now necessitate that Julian takes a step back from OnceLost Games. He wants to spend his remaining moments surrounded by those who mean the most to him. Let’s continue to support The Wayward Realms and remember Julian’s spirit in every game we play.

As a gamer, I’m extending an invitation: Share your thoughts, prayers, well wishes, memories, or the impact that Julian’s life and work has had on you. Your words of support mean more than you can imagine, not just for Julian himself, but for everyone who’s been fortunate enough to collaborate with him.

It’s clear that the team had already bid farewell and shared their personal messages, and I found myself sitting by his hospital bed, reading those messages aloud to him. In this situation, he would respond with dictation for me to type replies, which was quite challenging due to the tears streaming down my face.

It’s clear from the video that this news was deeply emotional and troubling for Peterson, as he delivers it. To conclude, he shares a poignant quote by Julian LeFay, who they met during their last gathering, that seems particularly apt.

LeFay stated, “That’s a personal matter.” And if it isn’t personal, it merely feels like a job you’re being paid for, which may leave you lacking the drive to achieve something truly meaningful.

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2025-07-17 16:47