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Former Starbreeze CEO Mikael Nermark has died

The 50-year-old was diagnosed with cancer last year

Former CEO of Starbreeze Studios Mikael Nermark has died.

The 50-year-old was diagnosed with cancer last year, said Liquid Swords' founder Christofer Sundberg in the Linkedin post announcing the news of Nermark's passing.

"On behalf of Mikael's family, it is with a very heavy heart that we let you know that Mikael [has] passed away due to cancer," Sundberg wrote. "He was a great husband, a great father, a great friend, a great professional and he will always live on in our hearts.

"Mikael [has] fought against his cancer for a year, and he [has] fought hard. His strength under the circumstances is truly inspirational and gives us all a perspective on life. He lived everyday like it mattered because it does and that is something we should all take with us as we honor his memory. His laugh, his guidance to us who have worked with him, his calm, his knowledge, his humor, and his voice will be with us forever. Gone, but never forgotten."

Mikael Nermark worked at Starbreeze for 11 years, until he resigned from his position as CEO in October 2020.

Prior to joining as executive vice president of Starbreeze in 2009, he was a board member at the studio's US subsidiary for six years, and was CEO of Overkill Software for nine months.

Double Fine Productions' founder Tim Schafer paid homage to Nermark, saying that without him, there would be no Psychonauts 2.

"Very sad to hear about Mikael Nermark today," Schafer wrote on Twitter. "He was an extremely kind, smart, & generous man. After his diagnosis he lived this past year with so much vitality I thought maybe he had the thing beat. Without Mikael and Starbreeze, there would be no Psychonauts 2. Thanks, Mikael!"

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Marie Dealessandri avatar
Marie Dealessandri: Marie joined GamesIndustry.biz in 2019 to head its Academy section. A journalist since 2012, she started in games in 2016. She can be found (rarely) tweeting @mariedeal, usually on a loop about Baldur’s Gate and the Dead Cells soundtrack. GI resident Moomins expert.
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