Honoring the Legacy of Team17 Co-Founder Martyn Brown: A Tribute to a Pioneering Visionary

Martyn Brown, co-founder of Team17, has unfortunately passed away.

Brown played a pivotal role in establishing the UK studio in 1990 and dedicated two decades to the company. During that time, he worked on more than 50 titles, including the immensely popular Worms series.

After leaving Team17 in 2010, Brown was recruited by Activision to create the mobile game development studio The Blast Furnace. He also provided support to various studios such as Double Eleven, Unique Inaugurate up Games, Exient, and Bithead through his independent consultancy firm, Perception For Hire.

His son Jack Brown confirmed the news of his passing in a statement released on GamesIndustry.biz.

“Martyn passed away peacefully in his sleep at 8:17 am on December 28, 2024, surrounded by family, following a lengthy battle with a series of strokes,” he noted. “Please know that he went out on his own terms, listening to his favorite music and surrounded by those he loved.”

Colleagues and peers from the industry have also shared their condolences on social media.

“Rest in peace, Martyn Brown, founder of Team17. He brought so much joy to the world with Worms. I am deeply saddened by this news; throughout the years I knew him, he was a kind and generous individual, full of humor and compassion. He will be greatly missed,” wrote game author Henrik Jonnson on Bluesky.

“We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Martyn Brown. He was such a dear friend to us and a strong advocate for the gaming industry in Yorkshire and beyond,” read a Bluesky post from Game Republic, the regional gaming business network co-founded by Brown in 2003. “Rest in peace, Martyn. You were immensely loved, truly appreciated, and will be sorely missed.”

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