EverQuest lead artist Kevin “Panatellen” Lydy has passed away

Darkpaw Games and Daybreak have shared that longtime EverQuest lead artist Kevin Lydy, known in the community as Panatellen, has passed away. Lydy worked on the franchise for more than 20 years, and the teams described him as a major creative force behind the game’s look over the decades.

In a message posted to the game’s social channels, the studio said Lydy’s “passion and commitment can be seen in every pixel of art he created,” and remembered him as a mentor and friend to many on the team. The full statement is available in the letter shared by the EverQuest account.

Lydy had a long career in games beyond Norrath as well. Darkpaw and Daybreak noted he was also an author and musician, and that he’d previously held roles across the industry, including a stint as VP at Midway Games.

Daybreak also pointed back to a 2022 “Get to Know Your Devs” interview where Lydy talked about how he first came onto EverQuest through friendships with people on the early team, and how some of his earliest work included creating the game’s logo, one of the most recognizable pieces of EQ’s identity.