Night in the Woods studio co-founder Alec Holowka has died

Night in the Woods developer and co-creator Alec Holowka has died. 

Last week, Depression Quest creator Zoe Quinn accused Alec of abuse during their relationship. The two members of Night in the Woods’ creative team, Scott Benson and Bethany Hockenberry, cut ties with Alec following the allegations and cancelled an Infinite Ammo project.

On Saturday, news of his death was reported by his sister Eileen Mary Holowka. Alec and Eileen were working together to develop a game called Project Potato.

She said, ‘Those who know me will know that I believe survivors and I have always done everything I can to support survivors, those suffering from mental illnesses, and those with chronic illnesses.’ 

‘Alec was a victim of abuse and he also spent a lifetime battling mood and personality disorders. I will not pretend that he was not also responsible for causing harm, but deep down he was a person who wanted only to offer people care and kindness. It took him a while to figure out how.’ 

‘Over the last few years, with therapy and medication, Alec became a new person — the same person he'd always been but without any of the darkness,’ she said. ‘Obviously, change is a slow process and it wasn't perfect, but he was working towards rehabilitation and a better life.’ She thanked the local Manitoba crisis services and friends that had supported Alec over the last week before his death. 

‘We tried our best to support Alec, but in the end he had felt he had lost too much,’ she wrote. Eileen added that her brother wished the best for Quinn and others, and asked, ‘don't use our grief as an excuse to harass people.’ Her account has since been made private.

If you have been affected by this news, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email  [email protected] or [email protected]. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; a list of international suicide prevention hotlines can be found here.