The video game community is mourning the loss of Sir Patrick Stewart, the celebrated British actor known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor X, who has died at the age of 86. His Instagram account confirmed the news, stating that he passed away at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by friends and family following a brief journey with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
While Stewart is widely recognized for his stage work and blockbuster film franchises, he also left a significant mark on gaming history. Most notably, he portrayed Emperor Uriel Septim VII in Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. In the game, he narrated the opening sequence with gravitas before appearing to the player in a prison cell to declare that he had seen them in his dreams and set them free. His monologue famously began by recounting his 65 years as Tamriel's emperor and the closing days of the Third Era.
Upon hearing of Stewart's passing, Bethesda shared an image of Emperor Uriel Septim from the recent Oblivion remaster, describing him as "an emperor, a captain, and an inspiration to us all" while extending their thoughts to his loved ones. Beyond Oblivian, Stewart provided the voice for the narrator in both Castlevania: Lord of Shadows titles developed by MercurySteam. He also lent his talents to various X-Men and Star Trek games, as well as smaller projects including the Polish Holocaust game My Memory of Us.
The gaming community has responded with widespread tributes. The Star Trek Online community organized a gathering where players arranged their spaceships in long lines to honor his memory. Messages celebrating his life have flooded social media from those impacted by his career. Hugh Jackman, his long-time collaborator and the actor who played Wolverine, described Stewart as one of the greats of stage and screen, calling him a tremendous friend and man from whom he learned much.
Sir Ian McKellen, who played Magneto and was considered one of Stewart's closest friends, reflected on their decades-long relationship. He recalled their time as ambitious young actors with the Royal Shakespeare Company half a century ago and noted that he had once cautioned Stewart about taking the lead role in Star Trek due to potential effects on his stage career, advice which Stewart ultimately overrode. McKellen honored his friend as the most respected and beloved actor of his generation on either side of the Atlantic.
Sources: Eurogamer.