EverQuest and Pantheon developer Brad McQuaid dies at 51

Brad McQuaid — popularly known as a formative hand in the creation of EverQuest and Pantheon developer— has breathed his last at the age of 51. The popular developer left for heavenly abode and the news of Brad McQuaid’s demise was announced by none other than the official Twitter handle of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, where he was working on until his death.

As per a message written on the Pantheon MMO forums by user BenD – Visionary Realms’ director of comms Benjamin Dean – Brad McQuaid passed away at his house. The message reads, “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,” the user stated.

Paying tribute to McQuaid, the Twitter handle of Pantheon wrote, “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.”

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

Talking about McQuaid’s journey, he joined Sony Online Entertainment in the year 1996 as a lead programmer and later producer on EverQuest, before later becoming chief creative officer. In 2002 he left SOE and founded Sigil Games, which shipped the MMO Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Sigil Games was eventually purchased by SOE.

Paying tribute to McQuaid, John Smedley, former president of Daybreak Game Company, formerly Sony Online Entertainment, and who worked with him on EverQuest wrote on Twitter.

Brad was an amazingly talented creator and Everquest wouldn't exist without his genius. He will be missed

— John Smedley (@j_smedley) November 20, 2019

May his soul Rest in Piece!