Gaming icon Rebecca Heineman has died after her battle with cancer. She was an out transgender woman, and is remembered across the gaming industry for her pioneering leadership, and across the LGBTQ community for her steadfast advocacy.
Heineman had previously served on GLAAD’s Board of Directors, and was honored with Gayming Magazine’s Icon Award earlier this year, with the magazine saying: “Her advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion, accessibility, and diversity in tech has inspired countless developers and players.”
She was the first champion of a national U.S. video game tournament, and is well known for founding Interplay Productions, creating beloved gaming franchises like The Bard’s Tale. She went on to found Contraband Entertainment, providing development assistance with several original games including Myth III: The Wolf Age, Baldur’s Gate II, and Icewind Dale. She later led programming projects for Electronic Arts, Bloomberg, Amazon, Microsoft/Xbox, and Sony/Playstation, and co-founded Olde Sküül with her late wife.
Heineman cited gaming as a refuge, a place for her to be herself as a transgender woman. And she sought to make gaming a welcoming place for everyone. Her advocacy extended to her corporate roles, serving as a leader for LGBTQ inclusion at Amazon, Microsoft, Sony, and more.
Heineman is cited by many as one of the most brilliant programmers of all time. The legendary programmer was a mother and grandmother. She was known to colleagues and friends as “Burger Becky,” and is remembered for her brilliance, her kindness, and her advocacy. Read more about her life and legacy here.
