Following yesterday’s incredibly sad news that adored actor Sir Patrick Stewart had died aged 86, the whole internet mourned as one. Joining the outpouring of grief and celebration are the players of the long-running MMO Star Trek Online, which saw players put aside conflict in order to perform a collection of moving tributes to the man who portrayed Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
As much as Stewart will be remembered for his stage roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as a long run performing Waiting for Godot with his great friend Sir Ian McKellen, it’ll be Star Trek: The Next Generation for which he’s most fondly remembered. Captain Picard is as iconic as Kirk at this point, with Stewart most recently reprising the role for Star Trek: Picard from 2020 to 2023. And so it is that the longtime players of Star Trek Online immediately came together to offer a memorial tribute.
Star Trek Online is almost 17 years old, changing both developer and publisher during its run, but still sees 1,200 or so people showing up at once on most days to explore federated space. Last night that number grew to 2,000. The game splits its action between flying starships and on-foot away missions, and both halves saw players showing their respect. Groups gathered at Starfleet Academy to hold torches aloft in honor of Stewart, with reports that the crowd grew larger as the evening went on.
The memorial for Patrick Stewart in Star Trek Online is growing. I plan to join when I get home from work. pic.twitter.com/xjgQnVqkvV
— Jeremy 💻🎮🔭 (@pcnerd37) October 29, 2026
Meanwhile, ships gathered around Earth Spacedock in huge numbers, many taking part in a firework display in memory of the actor.
You should see spacedock pic.twitter.com/iXfQdqlkbd
— James Stanton (@papajimbo1983) October 29, 2026
IGN observes that some players are calling on developer/publisher Arc Games to install a permanent tribute to Stewart in the game, with one person popularly suggesting that Picard’s Earth-based home and vineyard, Château Picard, be added as a location players can visit in-game.
The development team has yet to respond to these ideas, but did post a loving tribute of its own.
In an era where no one was sure whether Star Trek HAD a future, your warmth and your sturdiness gave us hope. For seven years, you were the Captain of the Enterprise, and you held yourself with that dignity in all walks of life. A knight in the truest sense of the word, and a man… pic.twitter.com/SQHkU3RdjZ
— Star Trek Online (@trekonlinegame) October 29, 2026
