Star Trek Online players have gathered in-game to pay tribute to Sir Patrick Stewart, who died this week aged 86.
The game’s community organized a virtual memorial service to honor the legendary actor, who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard in The Next Generation and a number of Star Trek films. Elsewhere, players held torches aloft in various in-game locales as they paid tribute to Stewart, who passed away following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
Spontaneous Guards of Honor made up of space ships formed in-game, too, with players letting off fireworks from their Galaxy Class ships to mark the occasion.
“Like so many others, absolutely devastated to hear about the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart, to lose the Captain who defined Star Trek for my generation,” redditor ‘wskelding’ said in a post on the STO subreddit.
“One of the amazing things to see after the announcement was the spontaneous reactions and gatherings of so many people who wanted to express their grief. From the mass gatherings at ESD, Academy and even Qo’noS to my personal favourite, the mass gathering of Galaxy Class ships outside ESD to form an Honor Guard. About 40/50 ships just started appearing at ESD, and without a word everyone just gathered into formation and let fly the fireworks.
“There’s something beautiful about that to me, to see so many people just come together without any prompting to just be there for each other, to show their love and respect for this incredible person.
“I sincerely hope that Sir Patrick knew just how many people that he (and the characters he played) inspired over the years, and how much of an example both Jean-Luc and Patrick as a person set to try and be a better person and to be there to help and support others.
“To borrow a line from Nemesis that felt fitting: ‘That is what it is to be human: To make yourself more than you are.’”
Now, players are calling on Star Trek Online developer Cryptic Studios to add a permanent tribute to Stewart by bringing Picard’s famous château to the game.
“Please consider recreating Château Picard, Jean-Luc Picard’s family vineyard in La Barre, France, as a peaceful, explorable location on Earth,” redditor Thin_Perspective4127 said. This would offer players a “quiet place where players from all factions can gather, remember him, and pay their respects.”
“Star Trek Online has allowed us to explore the galaxy for years. But sometimes, the most meaningful destination isn’t a distant star system. It’s a peaceful vineyard on Earth,” Thin_Perspective4127 added.
Others have called for Cryptic Studios to add a statue of Picard to the video game version of Starfleet Academy, complete with a memorial plaque. Other ideas include an optional annual remembrance event for the community.
Cryptic issued a statement of its own reacting to the tragic news. “In an era where no one was sure whether Star Trek HAD a future, your warmth and your sturdiness gave us hope,” the developer said. “For seven years, you were the Captain of the Enterprise, and you held yourself with that dignity in all walks of life. A knight in the truest sense of the word, and a man who will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace, Sir Patrick Strewart.”
Tributes from across the world of entertainment were paid overnight, including from Stewart’s Star Trek co-stars, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige, and X-Men co-stars Sir Ian McKellen and Hugh Jackman. Bethesda also paid tribute to Stewart for his role in The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.
Image credit: u/wskelding / reddit.
Wesley is IGN’s Managing Editor. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].