Brief
Richard “Levelord” Gray dies at 68
Gray’s death was announced on Oct 13, 2026, with colleagues recalling his influential work on classic shooters.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Richard “Levelord” Gray, the celebrated designer behind iconic first‑person shooter levels such as Duke Nukem 3D and Sin, died at age 68, the news outlet Ars Technica reported on Oct 14, 2026.
What happened
Gray’s death was announced on Oct 13, 2026. The announcement sparked an outpouring of tributes across the gaming community.
What the reports add
Ars Technica noted that Gray briefly pivoted to casual games, working on the Luxor series after Ritual Entertainment was acquired by MumboJumbo.
What was said
3D Realms founder Scott Miller called Gray “a stellar talent” and “a relentless hard worker.” Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski praised Gray’s “sense of place” in level design. John Romero described him as a “great guy” and “full of life.” Slipgate Ironworks CEO Frederik Schreiber called him “incredibly humble, remarkably intelligent, endlessly creative.”
How it came about
Gray’s early work on Duke Nukem 3D set a benchmark for level design, influencing a generation of developers and remaining a reference point in Felo’s past coverage of classic game design.
Key facts
- Richard “Levelord” Gray died at age 68. (arstechnica.com)
- He was known for designing levels in Duke Nukem 3D and Sin. (arstechnica.com)
- Colleagues such as Scott Miller, Cliff Bleszinski, John Romero and Frederik Schreiber issued public tributes. (arstechnica.com)
Sources
- [1] arstechnica.com — originally reported as “Legendary FPS level designer Richard "Levelord" Gray dies at 68”
