Julian Lefay, known to some as the “Father of The Elder Scrolls,” died last night, July 22, aged 59.

In a statement posted to the Kickstarter page of OnceLost Games’ The Wayward Realms, Lefay’s most recent project, the team confirmed the death of its “beloved technical director and co-founder,” calling him “not just a colleague,” but “a visionary who fundamentally shaped the gaming industry as we know it today […] his pioneering work establish[ing] the foundation for open-world RPGs and influenced countless developers and games that followed.

“Throughout his courageous battle with cancer, Julian never wavered in his passion for The Wayward Realms. Even during his 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,”the statement added. “His strength, determination, and unwavering focus inspire us all.”

In a heartfelt video posted last week, the OnceLost team acknowledged Lefay’s time was limited, revealing he had “stepped away from the project to spend that remaining time with his family and loved ones.” A clearly emotional creative producer Victor then invited fans to leave their thanks and best wishes to Lefay in the comments. Almost a thousand messages have been left at the time of writing.

In an email, Bethesda Softworks founder Christopher Weaver called Lefay “truly one of a kind” and confirmed Weaver and his family are helping organize a celebration of life for Lefay. Lefay’s daughter, Shae — who had been working with her father at OnceLost — also left a heartfelt statement on the Kickstarter page, inviting fans to support the Kickstarter and donate to Ukranian war efforts to “show their love for him.”

“He would rest well knowing that his passing will contribute to the causes he felt so strongly about,” Shae added.