Brad McQuaid, best known for his creation of the EverQuest franchise, has died at the age of 51. Officially reported by the Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Twitter account, his death has shocked many. 

It is with deep regret we share that Brad McQuaid passed away last night. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by gamers worldwide.

Thank you for bringing us together through your worlds. Rest in peace @Aradune.

VR offers our deepest condolences to Brad’s family.

— Pantheon (@PantheonMMO) November 20, 2019

Known as Aradune, Brad McQuaid had an amazing career within the videogame industry. He first joined Sony Online Entertainment in 1996, before going on to produce EverQuest. He left Sony Online Entertainment in 2002 and founded Sigil Games, which shipped the troubled MMO, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

Over on the official Pantheon forum, tribute was paid to McQuaid by a colleague, who went on to say:

It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we share that Brad McQuaid, Chief Creative Officer of Visionary Realms passed away in his home last night.

Brad was a visionary, a mentor, an artist, a trailblazer, a friend, a husband, a father. He touched thousands of lives with his dreams and concepts. He changed the landscape of video games forever. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered in life and in Pantheon.

Thank you, Brad, for bringing us together through your worlds. Rest in peace, Aradune.

All of us at Visionary Realms offer our deepest condolences to Brad’s family and during this most difficult time, we kindly ask that you respect the privacy of Brad’s family.