Legends from the video games industry have paid tribute to Scots game developer Stewart Gilray, who has died at the age of 51 after contracting Covid-19.
The veteran Aberdeen games creator was part of the industry for over three decades.
After picking up qualifications at the Aberdeen College of Commerce he started out as a freelance programmer for hitmakers like Psygnosis and Electronic Arts.
Stewart then worked as a producer at several other studios before establishing his own independent development company, Just Add Water, in 2006.
His studio was involved in the development of recent hits including remasters of the Oddworld series, a video game adaption of BBC series Doctor Who and a VR edition of shooter Sniper Elite.
Tributes have flooded in from across the world including from industry giant John Romero, who created iconic first-person shooter Doom.
He wrote on Twitter : "It's hard to believe he's gone.
"@stewartgilray was a good friend and always there whenever anyone needed him, including me.
"He was one of the good ones. I'm grateful for our friendship and thinking of his wife Bec, kids and many friends he's left behind."
Miles Jacobson, boss of Football Manager creators Sports Interactive, said in a poignant tweet: "This morning I lost another friend to Covid. Someone my age, who also ran a games studio
"A life lost far too early leaving a wife without the love of her life & 2 children losing their Dad.
"Get vaccinated, wear a mask, care about your fellow humans, because life is too short to not."
Shahid Kamal Ahmad, who once worked promoting games like those produced by Stewart at Sony, said: "There is nobody in our industry left who I can laugh with the way you and I laughed together Stew."
Byron Atkinson-Jones, a principal engineer at PlayStation, said: "Gutted and heartbroken. @stewartgilray has just passed away. RIP friend!"
Oddworld Inhabitants, which partnered with Stewart's firm to produce remasters of their games, said: "Everyone at Oddworld Inhabitants is extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Stewart Gilray.
"He will always hold a special place in our hearts. Our thoughts are with his family and other loved ones."
Stewart had kept friends informed of his Covid diagnosis in mid-December via social media, and was admitted to hospital on December 20.
However, he was put into an induced coma as his condition rapidly deteriorated.
He is survived by his wife Bec and their two children.
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