The tragedy was reported by her friend Heidi McDonald:
My friend Rebecca Heineman, who paved the way in game development, has passed away. It was a tough fight. To hell with cancer. Friends, let's remember her.
Brian Fargo, co-founder of Interplay, wrote:
We've known each other since the 80s, when I used to drive her to work — one of the most talented programmers in the industry. It was a huge blow to me when she wrote to me today: "We've been through so many adventures! And now — into the great unknown! I'm going first!"
Other creators, including Chris Avellone and Josh Sawyer, also shared their memories.
Heineman rose to fame in 1980, winning the national Space Invaders tournament on Atari 2600. Having independently studied programming, she participated in the creation of iconic games: Wasteland, Fallout, Baldur’s Gate, and The Bard’s Tale: Thief of Fate.