“Trailblazing” Interplay co-founder Rebecca Heineman has died of cancer aged 62.
Heineman detailed the journey through her diagnosis and treatment via her GoFundMe page, writing candidly about her fight. Social media has since been flooded with messages from fans, co-workers, and developers thanking her for her work.
“It’s time,” she wrote in her final message, posted yesterday (November 17). “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 [and late wife], Jennell Jaquays. My daughter Cynthia Elizabeth heineman, will be making the arrangements.”
Interplay co-founder Brian Fargo posted a heartfelt tribute on social media, writing: “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!!!'”
Her friend Heidi McDonald wrote: “My trailblazing game industry bad-ass friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away. F**k cancer. Friends, let’s not forget her.”
Heineman taught herself to code by reverse engineering code, and won a national Space Invaders contest when she was just 14. Although she has a startling array of gaming credits to her name from her time at Interplay and beyond, Heineman said Bard’s Tale 3 “was what started me on the path to being a studio head.” She was also Gayming’s Icon Award recipient in 2025 for “her advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion, accessibility, and diversity in tech has inspired countless developers and players.”
