Former Elder Scrolls developer Julien LeFay has announced that he will be stepping away from his game developer role at OnceLost Games. This decision comes after the announcement that his cancer is now terminal.
A prolific developer, LeFay is best known for his work at Bethesda, where he helped build the first two Elder Scrolls games: Arena and Daggerfall. Due to his crucial role within the series, he has been affectionately dubbed “The Father of the Elder Scrolls,” acting as the inspiration for the in-game deity Julianos.
Following his departure from Bethesda in 1998, LeFay continued his work on various game titles, such as the 2012 fighting game Skullgirls. In 2019, he founded his own indie game studio OnceLost Games, where he teamed up with former Bethesda developers Ted Peterson and Vijay Lakshman. Afterwards, in 2024, they began working on the open-world RPG The Wayward Realms, a spiritual successor to Daggerfall, which was funded through Kickstarter for its initial development.
In a statement penned by co-founder Ted Peterson, the studio addressed the devastating news:
“Even in the face of this challenge, Julian’s dedication to The Wayward Realms and to all of you, our community, has never wavered. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that his vision for “The Grand RPG” will live on, but now Julian must step away from OnceLost Games for his health and to live his final moments surrounded by his loved ones.”
Words by Thomas Stanier
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