Career game designer Laralyn McWilliams has passed away at the age of 58 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
McWilliams embarked on her journey in the gaming industry back in 1994 when she founded The Gloating Goat Company, where she crafted games like Shadows for Microprose. Her career was marked by notable contributions as she served as a lead designer at various renowned studios, including Media Station, High Voltage Software, and Pandemic Studios.
One of her significant roles was as the creative director of the MMO Free Realms at Sony Online Entertainment, where she left her mark from 2006 to 2011. She later assumed the position of chief creative officer for five years at Skydance Interactive. In 2018, McWilliams joined Microsoft, where she served as the principal creative design director until her passing.
McWilliams’ remarkable contributions were duly recognized within the gaming community. In 2021, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Game Developer’s Choice Awards. Throughout her illustrious career, she worked on notable titles such as Gears of War 4, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Archangel.
Following her passing, tributes poured in on social media from fellow professionals in the gaming industry. Kari Toyama, among others, paid homage to McWilliams, acknowledging her as a fiercely talented developer who generously shared her expertise with others. Toyama fondly remembered McWilliams as kind and genuine, emphasizing her significant impact on the industry and expressing sorrow over her loss.
