Paul David Nuñez November 19th, 2025 - 11:07 AM
Suffice to say, the video game industry lost a legend and icon with the passing of video game designer and programmer Rebecca Heineman at the age of 62. She was best known as Co-Founder of developer Interplay alongside Brian Fargo, Jay Patel, and Troy Worrell. Interplay developed the first Fallout game.
Rebecca Heineman, known best for co-founding original Fallout developer Interplay alongside Brian Fargo, Jay Patel, and Troy Worrell in the early 1980s, has died aged 62. https://t.co/DYkjnhimfO pic.twitter.com/P1axXWBiJp
— IGN (@IGN) November 18, 2025
“It’s time,” Heineman wrote in her final message. “According to my doctors. All further treatments are pointless. So please donate so my kids can create a funeral worthy of my keyboard, Pixelbreaker! So I can make a worthy entrance for reuniting with my one true love, Jennell Jaquays. My daughter Cynthia Elizabeth Heineman will be making the arrangements.”
Many of her industry friends and colleagues took to social media, sharing their tributes. Her friend Heidi McDonald wrote: “My trailblazing game industry badass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away. F**k cancer. Friends, let’s not forget her.”
Rebecca Heineman sadly passed away. Known her since the 80s when I’d drive her to work, one of the most brilliant programmers around. A real gut punch earlier today when she messaged me: “We have gone on so many adventures together! But, into the great unknown! I go first!!!” 🙁 pic.twitter.com/lu3i0fyt5C
— Brian Fargo (@BrianFargo) November 17, 2025
Rebecca was one of the founders of Interplay and programmed & designed for some of the most influential games of my youth, notably Bard’s Tale I & III and Wasteland. She will be missed.
— Attica Condor Sawyer (@jesawyer.bsky.social) November 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
A game industry legend died a few mins ago, Rebecca Heineman (@burgerbecky), taken away by aggressive lung cancer. She oversaw the porting of Wizordum to the Mac OS most recently for Apogee. My local friends would often have dinner with her and I loved her industry stories and…
— Scott Miller – Apogee/3D Realms Founder ☢️ (@ScottApogee) November 17, 2025
What a remarkable human, and what a remarkable thing to know that she passed bemused at reading her own eulogies.
Rest in peace, Rebecca. Thank you for everything.
— Rami Ismail (رامي) (@ramiismail.com) November 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Rebecca was in my life because she reached out to me, a stranger, because she’d caught wind of a layoff I was impacted by. Her achievements were great, and so too was her kindness.
— James Youngman (@jyoungman.bsky.social) November 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Rest well, you legend, you pioneer, you wonderful soul. I’m lucky to have known you, though briefly. Please share her legacy by reposting Heidi’s message. 💖
— Casey Mongillo (ケイシ・モンジロ) (@caseymongillo.bsky.social) November 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
in the early 2000s Rebecca took the time to chat over IRC with a teenaged and gender-confused Me on the practicalities of transition – in a time where being out as trans online was something that could get you socially ostracized. I owe her a lot for that and only hope I can pay it forward.
— Aura/Moom (@moomanibe.bsky.social) November 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Prior to co-founding Interplay, Heinman made waves back in 1980 when she won a national Space Invaders tournament, becoming the first formally recognized U.S. champion of any video game. At Interplay, Heineman was part of the development of a number of classic RPG franchises alongside Fallout including Wasteland and Baldur’s Gate.
Her most prominent design credit according to her was on The Bard’s Tale 3: Thief of Fate. “Being able to head the project and be the decision maker was what started me on the path to being a studio head,” she told Women in Gaming: 100 Professionals of Play in 2024.
In the ’90s and 200os, Heineman made her mark as a programmer with ports like the Macintosh versions of Wolfenstein 3D, Baldur’s Gate, and Icewind Dale. She also has a legendary story on how she solo programmed the ill-fated 3Do port of Doom in mere weeks.
Earlier this year, Heineman was the recipient of Gayming’s 2025 Gayming Icon Award for “her advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion, accessibility, and diversity in tech has inspired countless developers and players.”
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