Legendary FPS level designer Richard "Levelord" Gray dies at 68
Prolific first-person shooter level designer Richard "Levelord" Gray died Monday at age 68. The news of his passing was shared via social media.
New York, USA – Richard "Levelord" Gray, a highly influential level designer known for his work on first-person shooter (FPS) games, died on Monday at the age of 68. The announcement of his death was made by Apogee Entertainment on social media.
Gray had been dealing with cancer for some time, according to former colleague Joe Siegler. He entered the game industry at age 35 in 1994 with GrayDoom, a collection of four maps for the original Doom that gained significant traction. This early work caught the attention of others, leading to a contract for level design on the late 90s title Blood.
He was subsequently hired by 3D Realms, where he is credited with designing half the levels for the landmark title Duke Nukem 3D. During his tenure there, Gray also created the notable "You're Not Supposed to Be Here" easter egg, a hidden area accessible only through cheat codes.
Gray's contributions significantly shaped the early landscape of FPS level design, leaving a lasting legacy on the genre through his creative and often challenging map layouts.