Team17 Pays Tribute to Martyn Brown, Celebrating the Legacy of a British Game Development Pioneer

Team17 Pays Tribute to Co-Founder Martyn Brown, Celebrating Decades of British Game Development Team17, one of the UK’s most influential independent game developers and publishers, has honored the memory of its late co-founder Martyn Brown with a moving tribute published on its official website.

Martyn Brown, who passed away in December 2024 at the age of 58, played a pivotal role in shaping the UK and global gaming landscape through his work with Team17, whose acclaimed portfolio includes titles such as Alien Breed, Worms, Project X, and Full Contact.

Founded in Wakefield in 1990, Team17 quickly rose to prominence, recognized for both its innovative original games and its eye for spotting emerging talent within the British gaming scene.

Brown’s early contributions were central to the studio’s initial success, and he remained an integral influence up to his departure from the company in 2011. In their recent memorial post, Team17 described Martyn Brown as "a cornerstone in the foundation of Team17’s early growth and a dynamic presence at our Wakefield office," highlighting his rare ability to recognize skilled and passionate developers.

Brown was directly credited with assembling the core team responsible for developing seminal games like Full Contact, Alien Breed, and Project X.

He also played a key role in discovering new talents, such as Andy Davidson, the creator behind the long-running Worms franchise. The tribute features recollections from several colleagues and industry figures.

Debbie Bestwick, Team17’s current non-executive director and Brown’s longtime collaborator, shared fond anecdotes about their time working together.

She reflected, "It’s hard to say goodbye to my close friend and business partner.

Martyn’s sense of humor, creative drive, and unique approach to game development shaped so many of our hits and the spirit of Team17.

I’m grateful for the countless memories and the shared passion that helped bring games like Project X and Worms to life." Other team members and collaborators, including Alien Breed programmer Andreas Tadic and Worms composer Bjørn Lynne, also contributed their own tributes, painting a picture of a leader whose impact reached far beyond the games themselves. Beyond game development, the commemoration notes that Martyn Brown cared deeply about animal welfare.

His family has suggested that those wishing to honor his legacy consider making donations to Dog’s Trust, a UK-based charity that supports the rehoming and well-being of dogs—a cause close to Brown’s heart. Team17’s homage to Martyn Brown stands as a testament to his enduring influence on the video game industry, the creative minds he nurtured, and the classic games that continue to resonate on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and beyond.

For those interested in exploring the full tribute and learning more about Brown’s lasting legacy, Team17’s official blog offers additional personal stories and reflections from across the gaming community.

Team17 Worms Alien game development