Klaus Teuber, the game designer who developed Settlers of Catan, has passed away at age 70. A statement on his death was released on Twitter by Catan Studios. According to the German Catan site, Teuber passed away on April 1 after a “short, severe illness.” Teuber was most well known for Settlers of Catan, but he also helped design and create the games Barbarossa, and Drunter and Drüber (renamed Wacky Wacky Wacky for the English language publication) among others. He won the Game of the Year award four times.
It is with profound sadness that we at CATAN Studio acknowledge the passing of Klaus Teuber, legendary game designer and creator of the beloved board game CATAN. Our hearts go out to Klaus’ family during this incredibly difficult time. pic.twitter.com/gPPIVtleHJ
— CATAN – Official (@settlersofcatan) April 4, 2023
In an interview with The New Yorker, Teuber said, “I developed games to escape. This was my own world I created.” The article profiles a humble and grateful game designer who was deeply concerned with the social elements of board games and loved his work. To date, Catan has sold 32 million units and has been translated into 40 languages. It has numerous expansions and licensed games, including Seafarers, Explorers and Pirates, and Starfarers.
The short message online shares that Teuber’s “contributions of the board gaming industry are immeasurable.” The statement shares that one of the best ways to honour Teuber’s memory is by “being kind… pursuing your creative passions fearlessly, and enjoying a game with your loved ones.”