‘The Father of Elder Scrolls’ Julian LeFay Passes Away From Cancer at Age 59

Julian LeFay passed away on July 22 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 59. He took time away from work to spend time with his family and loved ones prior to his passing. LeFay was widely considered the father of the Elder Scrolls series, a title OnceLost Games confirmed in a public statement mourning the co-founder of the studio’s passing. 

The statement praises LeFay’s legacy, calling him a visionary who fundamentally shaped the gaming industry as people know it today. The statement attributes many of the studio’s successes in the Elder Scrolls franchise to LeFay’s pioneering work, which established the foundation for open-world RPGs and influenced countless developers and games that followed. 

After singing praise to the legendary game developer, OnceLost Games communicated regarding LeFay’s courageous battle against cancer. 

“Julian never wavered in his passion for The Wayward Realms. Even during illness, he continued to share his vision with our team, mentor our developers, and ensure that every aspect of the game reflected his commitment to creating something truly extraordinary. His strength, determination, and unwavering focus inspire us all,” the statement reads. 

“We want to be transparent with you. This is an immeasurable loss for our team, our community, and our industry.” 

During his early career, LeFay served as the lead programmer for The Elder Scrolls: Arena. His contributions to the franchise continued in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall and An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire. His contributions to the industry are immeasurable. LeFay co-founded OnceLost Games in 2019 with fellow former Bethesda veterans. The Wayward Realms was his final project before passing, an open-world RPG that was intended as a spiritual successor to Daggerfall. Development for the upcoming title will continue.