Julian LeFay, "Father of The Elder Scrolls," Bids Farewell to Game Development Amid Health Battle

Julian LeFay — legendary programmer, game designer, and the man often hailed as “the father of The Elder Scrolls” — has officially stepped away from the video game industry. As shared by his colleagues at OnceLost Games, LeFay’s departure comes at a deeply personal moment, as his long struggle with cancer approaches its final stages.

Doctors have informed Julian that he has little time left, prompting him to make the heartfelt decision to spend what remains with his loved ones.

While Todd Howard is widely recognized as the face of the modern Elder Scrolls series, it was LeFay who helped lay its foundation. One of the first four employees at Bethesda, he played a pivotal role in shaping the studio’s early identity. He served as lead programmer on The Elder Scrolls: Arena and took the reins as project lead on Daggerfall, helping define what would become one of gaming’s most iconic RPG franchises.

In 2019, LeFay co-founded OnceLost Games alongside fellow Bethesda veterans with the ambitious goal of creating a spiritual successor to Daggerfall, titled The Wayward Realms. Although his direct involvement has come to an end, he left behind a treasure trove of design documents — a detailed blueprint of what he believed a “true RPG” should be. His vision will continue to guide the team moving forward.