Catan fans, we’ve got some sad news: Klaus Teuber, the genius behind the groundbreaking game, has passed away at the age of 70. Catan Studios, the company that brought us the family board game, confirmed the news in a press release. Teuber lost his life on April 1st after battling a brief illness. Teuber had been working on new expansions and versions of Catan to come out later this year.

In response to his death, Catan Studios released a statement calling Klaus a “legendary figure in the board gaming industry.” They said he not only designed one of the most well-known tabletop series in modern history but also helped shape the genre of the “German Game,” and will continue to inspire generations of gamers for years to come.

Pete Fenlon, head of Catan Studio, described Klaus as not only a talented designer, but also a kind and selfless human being, an inspirational leader, and most importantly, a friend.

Klaus created Catan back in 1995, originally called Settlers of Catan. He’d already designed a few lesser-known tabletop titles like Barbarossa in 1988 and Hoity Toity in 1990. But it was Catan that became the most popular board game of the past 30 years, winning the Spiel des Jahres award in 1995. Since then, there have been more than 50 expansions, spin-offs, and revised versions of the game.

For those who don’t know, Catan is all about building and developing your own civilization on a fictional island. You get certain resources based on where you place your settlements, and you use those resources to construct more settlements, roads, and even upgrade to cities. You can trade with other players or ports on the board to get the resources you need, and you can earn victory points by building the longest road or buying development cards.

Klaus’ family has asked for privacy during this difficult time, but Catan Studios wants us to honor Klaus’ memory by being kind to each other, pursuing our creative passions, and most importantly, enjoying a game with our loved ones.

What a glorious life. Rest in peace, Klaus.

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