Julian LeFay, a highly respected figure in the video game industry often credited as the “Father of The Elder Scrolls,” is retiring due to his declining health.
In 2019, LeFay co-founded OnceLost Games, an independent studio, alongside other former Bethesda developers. This team has been diligently developing a new role-playing game titled The Wayward Realms. For several years, LeFay has bravely fought cancer. Producer Victor Villarreal shared in a recent video that despite his courageous battle, LeFay`s remaining time is unfortunately limited.
LeFay has decided to step away from the studio to dedicate his remaining time to his family and loved ones. Villarreal confirmed that OnceLost Games had anticipated LeFay`s eventual departure and that he had clearly communicated his vision for The Wayward Realms to the team. The studio is committed to working tirelessly to realize this vision.
Ted Peterson, CEO of OnceLost Games, released a heartfelt statement reflecting on his long personal and professional relationship with LeFay. Peterson recalled meeting LeFay in 1992 during his interview for a junior writer position at Bethesda. Peterson described LeFay as an eccentric and memorable individual, noting his tall, slender build, handsome but often scowling face, and a “magnificent pompadour mullet.”
Peterson further revealed LeFay`s profound passion for pen-and-paper RPGs, which ultimately inspired what would become The Elder Scrolls: Arena, a project LeFay considered his “dream.”
The genesis of The Wayward Realms, Peterson explained, stemmed from a conversation with LeFay years ago. LeFay pondered how he might reimagine the initial Elder Scrolls concepts with decades of experience, while still preserving their foundational principles. Following this, Peterson and LeFay discussed their combined experience in design, narrative, and other media, ultimately deciding to embark on this new project together.
Confirming the gravity of the situation, Peterson reiterated that LeFay`s courageous fight against cancer has reached a point where doctors indicate his time is short.
“Julian must step away from OnceLost Games for his health and to live his final moments surrounded by his loved ones. Julian has complete faith in the ability of the team to bring the game he has envisioned to life for this incredible community,” Peterson stated. “Your words of support mean more than you know, not just to Julian, but to all of us who have been privileged to work alongside him. Obviously, the team has already had a chance to say goodbye and give their individual messages, and I sat by his hospital bed, reading them to him. In that case, I was reading them out loud and Julian was giving me dictation to reply back, which is rather hard to do through my tears.”
LeFay`s extensive career includes 36 credits across 21 games. Beyond the early Elder Scrolls titles, his notable works include Wayne Gretzky Hockey, The Terminator 2029, Dragon`s Lair, and Where`s Waldo. He departed Bethesda in 1998.
The Wayward Realms is envisioned as a medieval fantasy RPG and a spiritual successor to The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. It aims to blend “old-school” design philosophies with cutting-edge technology, powered by Unreal Engine 5. While planned for Steam Early Access, a release date has not yet been announced.