Interplay co-founder Rebecca Heineman died of cancer at the age of 62.
Heineman spoke in detail about her diagnosis and treatment through her. GoFundMe a page that wrote candidly about her struggles. Since then, social media has been flooded with messages from fans, colleagues and developers thanking her for her work.
“It’s time,” she wrote in her latest post, published yesterday (November 17). “According to my doctors. All further treatment is pointless. So please donate so my kids can have a funeral worthy of my Pixelbreaker keyboard! So that I can be reunited with dignity with my one true love.” [and late wife]Jennell Jacques. My daughter Cynthia Elizabeth Heineman will be organizing.”
Interplay co-founder Brian Fargo published heartfelt tribute on social media, writing: “Sadly, Rebecca Heineman has passed away. I've known her since the 80s, when I drove her to work, she was one of the most brilliant programmers around. A real punch in the gut when she texted me today: “We've had so many adventures together! But into the great unknown! I'm going first!!!””
Her friend Heidi MacDonald wrote: “My cool game industry pioneer friend Rebecca Heineman has passed away. Fuck cancer. Friends, let's not forget her.”
Heineman taught herself to program by reverse engineering code and won the national Space Invaders competition when she was just 14 years old. While she has a staggering amount 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 becoming a studio head.” She was also the recipient of the 2025 Gayming Icon Award for “her advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion, accessibility, and diversity in technology, inspiring countless developers and gamers.”
