Hamidreza Maktabi: He was just an online game designer

Hamidreza Maktabi was a young and gifted Iranian game designer, a graduate of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, and a passionate learner. Before he was conscripted for  military service, he had already spent years building games that reflected thought, ethics, and educational values — not just entertainment.

When the brutal Israeli airstrikes hit Tehran in June 2025, Hamidreza was serving his military duty. He was killed on the very first day of attacks, inside one of the targeted facilities, unarmed, simply doing what he was assigned to do. He became a soldier without a weapon, who had already chosen a path of meaningful impact in life. 

Nothing captures Hamidreza’s personality and values better than the words he wrote on his personal website. His reflection reveals a person who saw game development not merely as a technical field, but as a process of growth, dialogue, and responsibility:

“Hi! I’m Hamid, and ever since I entered the world of game development, every project I’ve worked on has helped me learn new things and improve my skills. From client-based projects to indie works, each of them has helped me gain a better perspective on making games. Many projects were client-driven and naturally had to align with their tastes and needs. In these, I always tried to leave a positive impact, but teamwork is inherently about collective interaction and effort. He was a curious and responsible creator who believed in games as a tool for learning, not manipulation: 

“Indie projects gave me the chance to explore new ideas with teammates and overcome different challenges. Game development is a long, step-by-step process that equips you with better tools and insights through every project and experience. In my work, I always strive to balance market demands with my own interests. I’m against gambling-like monetization systems in free-to-play games, and I prefer participating in serious or educational game projects.”