Fable Art Director Paul McLaughlin Dies at Age 57
Paul McLaughlin, art director for Fable and many other beloved games, has died at the age of 57. He passed away in December of 2021 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
An industry veteran of over 30 years, McLaughlin began his career in game development at Emerald Software in 1988 before moving to the well-known Bullfrog Productions in 1990. There he played a key role in the art design of a number of acclaimed classics, such as Populous II, Syndicate, Theme Park, and Dungeon Keeper, among many others. When Lionhead Studios was founded as an offshoot of Bullfrog, McLaughlin signed on as art director of Black & White, and he reprised that role for the original Fable in 2004. McLaughlin remained an essential member of the studio until Lionhead's controversial shutdown in 2016. He then moved on to become head of art at independent developer 22cans.
Related: Fable Series History: Why Xbox Fans Love The Fantasy RPG Franchise
The UK game development community has paid tribute to McLaughlin following the news of his death, and Eurogamer has collected those tributes from his close friends and colleagues. Peter Molyneux, the co-founder of Bullfrog, Lionhead, and 22cans, honored McLaughlin as the "first proper games artist" he ever met. "Paul was a huge cornerstone in my life," Molyneux said. "He was a professional, moral and funny person who had the ability to see the fair and sensible approach in any situation. I miss him every day in every way. His legacy will be felt and seen for a long, long time." Fans have also expressed their grief and condolences, with many citing Fable as one of their favorite games alongside McLaughlin's other work. He is survived by his wife Evie, his son Conor, and his two daughters Louise and Evy.
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