Just Add Water founder Stewart Gilray dies at 51

gamesindustry.biz:

James Batchelor

Editor-in-Chief

Thursday 6th January 2022

Just Add Water

Stewart Gilray, the founder and CEO of long-running UK developer Just Add Water has died.

Gilray has led the company for over 15 years, overseeing its growth as a provider of production and development services to various studios across the UK, including Codemasters, Rebellion and Bossa.

He was hospitalised with COVID-19 on December 20 and, after fighting it for the past few weeks, passed away today. He was 51.

Gilray's career began as a freelance programmer in the late '80s, when he worked with notable studios such as Psygnosis, Bullfrog, Core Design and Argonaut Software.

He worked at a range of companies throughout his career, including 21st Century Entertainment and Revolution Software, before founding Just Add Water back in October 2006.

The company has made a name for itself through its work reviving the Oddworld franchise. More recent releases include last year's Sniper Elite VR, Toy Soldiers HD and Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality.

Stewart is survived by his wife Bec, as well as their son and daughter.

Fellow developers and games professionals have been sharing tributes across social media and via email. More will be added as they come in.

"Stewart was one of the most loved people in the games industry," said indie developer Shahid Ahmad in an email. "He made friends wherever he went and was an immensely talented, award-winning games developer.

"He and I hit it off at our very first meeting well over a decade ago and had been very close friends since, sharing our highest highs and lowest lows. He was one of only a handful of people in the industry who I trusted enough to open up with. I'm devastated at his untimely passing and want to assure his wife and