Latest news with #Daggerfall
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Todd Howard joins fans mourning "the driving force in the creation of The Elder Scrolls and the foundations of Bethesda as a game studio," Julian LeFay: "Without Julian, we would not be here today"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Bethesda lead Todd Howard has paid tribute to the "father of Elder Scrolls," Julian LeFay, upon news of his death. Over on Twitter, Howard calls LeFay a "driving force in the creation of The Elder Scrolls and the foundations of Bethesda as a game studio." "Simply put, without Julian, we would not be here today," Howard says. "If you had the opportunity to work with Julian, you were blessed to know a one-of-a-kind force of nature, who pushed everyone to create something special. His work and spirit will live on both in our memories and in our games." News of LeFay's passing comes from another studio he helped set up, OnceLost Games, which tells fans his "legacy will live on in every realm, every quest, and every moment of wonder" in the upcoming fantasy RPG The Wayward Realms. LeFay initially joined Bethesda shortly after its formation, helping put together formative Elder Scrolls games like Arena and Daggerfall – such was his influence, the deity Julianos is named after him. He would go on to co-found OnceLost Games alongside other Bethesda veterans before announcing The Wayward Realms in 2021. Last week, OnceLost Games confirmed that LeFay would be stepping away from the studio to "live his final moments surrounded by his loved ones." Today, the studio said he passed away after a "courageous battle with cancer." "He touched the lives of millions of players worldwide and inspired countless developers to push creative boundaries," they said, before calling his death "an immeasurable loss for our team, our community, and our industry." Solve the daily Crossword
Metro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
The Elder Scrolls creator Julian LeFay dies following battle with cancer
One of the original creators behind The Elder Scrolls has died of cancer, as his studio and Bethesda pays tribute. Although Bethesda's Todd Howard is always closely associated with The Elder Scrolls, and has directed the last several entries, he wasn't one of the original creators, with that credit instead going to Vijay Lakshman, Ted Peterson, and Julian LeFay. The latter worked as a programmer and chief engineer at Bethesda until 1998, before he founded independent studio OnceLost Games in 2019, with Lakshman and Peterson. The studio is currently developing an open world role-playing game entitled The Wayward Realms, described as a spiritual successor to The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall. Last week, OnceLost Games said LeFay, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, had stepped away from the industry to be 'surrounded by his loved ones' as his condition worsened. Five days later, the studio has announced LeFay has died, aged 59. 'It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we inform our community of the passing of Julian LeFay, our beloved technical director and co-founder of OnceLost Games,' the post on X reads. 'Julian LeFay was not just a colleague – he was a visionary who fundamentally shaped the games industry as we know it today. Known as the 'Father of The Elder Scrolls', Julian directed the creation of legendary titles including Elder Scrolls 1 & 2: Arena, Daggerfall, and Battlespire. His pioneering work established the foundation for open world RPGs and influenced countless developers and games that followed.' — OnceLost Games (@OnceLostGames) July 23, 2025 Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. They added: '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. His strength, determination, and unwavering focus inspire us all.' OnceLost Games described LeFay's death as an 'immeasurable loss' for the team, but said they were 'more committed than ever' to finish work on The Wayward Realms 'exactly as Julian envisioned it'. More Trending 'Our development continues with the same passion, technical excellence, and attention to detail that Julian demanded,' they added. 'Every feature, every system, and every player experience will aim to reflect his dedication to creating 'The Grand RPG' that redefines what the genre can be. 'Ted Peterson, Eric Heberling, and our entire development team remain fully dedicated to this mission. We will continue to share development updates, maintain our transparency with the community, and ensure that The Wayward Realms becomes the groundbreaking experience Julian knew it could be.' The Wayward Realms was announced in 2019 and is the studio's first project. A Kickstarter campaign to fund an early access build hit its goal in May last year. Bethesda is currently developing the next entry in The Elder Scrolls series, which is expected to launch at some point after 2026. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Assassin's Creed Shadows on Switch 2 all but confirmed for next Nintendo Direct MORE: Battlefield 6 release date and open beta details leak ahead of reveal trailer MORE: The 20 best Commodore Amiga games to celebrate the 40th anniversary
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered' game review
For those who remember, Oblivion was synonymous with the Xbox 360 era, one of the high points in Microsoft's console history. Experiencing a vast, open-ended role-playing game on an HD television back then was unforgettable, a feeling many gamers have bottled up ever since. While Bethesda could have chosen to remaster The Elder Scrolls: Arena, Daggerfall, or even Morrowind, I, for one, am grateful we have received Oblivion first. This remaster gives us a chance to relive that magic, now with all the quality-of-life improvements we have come to expect from today's open-world RPGs. Set in the heartlands of Cyrodiil, just south of Skyrim's snow-capped, dragon-infested peaks, Oblivion places you in the boots of the Hero of Kvatch. After a lengthy tutorial, you emerge from a prison cell and into a world in peril. Uriel Septim VII, the emperor of Tamriel, crosses your path during his attempted escape and recognises your face from a prophetic dream. His untimely assassination at the hands of a mysterious cult leaves you with a monumental task: to close the Oblivion gates and face the fiery horrors of the Daedra. Fans of the Elder Scrolls series will know what to expect: a vast sandbox teeming with freedom. You can become a thief, a mercenary, a necromancer, a Daedric devotee or even a vampire. The world is dense with quests, side stories, and activities. Whether you are taking on guild missions or pickpocketing NPCs for fun, Oblivion offers that classic, chaotic charm that inspired countless memes. Returning to the original game today can be tough, especially with how far first-person RPGs have come. That is why one of the most welcome improvements in the remaster is the completely overhauled combat. Weapon swings feel solid, and enemies react with satisfying weight. Fortunately, the developers have kept the spirit of the original intact, enhancing fluidity without straying too far from what made the game unique. Character creation has also seen significant upgrades, as expected with a new engine. You can still sculpt some of the most hilariously grotesque faces imaginable, now with added facial hair. At this screen, part of me longed for a full remake with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's level of detail, but the nostalgic tone remains. New body types and origin options have been added, affecting your stats, though the core class system is still present. And yes, the beloved Spellsword remains as powerful as ever. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Publisher: Bethesda Developer: Virtuos, Bethesda Game Studios Price: ₹4,999 on Steam, Xbox One, Playstation 5 With Unreal Engine 5 under the hood, Oblivion Remastered is visually striking, offering enhanced fidelity, smoother frame rates, and richer detail. That said, one thing I sorely miss is the iconic lush greenery that defined Cyrodiil. In the original, the landscape was vibrant, filled with glowing Ayleid ruins and rolling forests. The remaster feels more muted and earthy, lacking the colour palette I associate with the game. Thankfully, modders have already stepped in to restore that lost vibrance — on PC, at least. In its heyday, Oblivion was both a visual and auditory feast, and this remaster builds on that legacy. The sweeping score still tugs at your heart, and much of the original content remains faithfully preserved—including the bugs. Some seem to have been intentionally left in for nostalgia's sake. Daedric encounters still thrill as you close the gates, and the game's standout quests hold up brilliantly. One of my favourites — a Knives Out-style whodunnit — can be found in the Dark Brotherhood storyline. If you have never played it, do not miss it. It has been a demanding time for our gaming budgets lately, on one side, we have Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and now Oblivion Remastered on the other. That said, a return to Cyrodiil is never a bad idea. Whether you are stepping into this world for the first time or you are a returning Hero of Kvatch, be prepared to lose 80 to 100 hours of your life. It is absolutely worth it.
