Talented video game composer Saki Kaskas has passed away at the age of 44.

Long-time collaborator Rom Di Prisco broke the news of his death in a Facebook post, praising the late musican's kind-hearted nature and unique creative vision.

The veteran maestro was perhaps best known for his work on EA's long-running Need For Speed franchise, having worked on the series as an in-house composer for roughly four years.

During that time, Kaskas wrote the music for five Need for Speed titles, including Porsche Unleashed, Hot Pursuit, and High Stakes.

More recently, Kaskas' contributed to a number of high-profile games, including Sleeping Dogs, Mass Effect 2, and Sim City 4.

"Saki was a gentle, kind soul, with a heart of gold. He was one in a million. He was a master of his craft, and I don't exaggerate when I say that he was the most talented musician I have ever known," reads Di Prisco's Facebook post.

"I have consistently been blown away and hugely inspired by Saki's work over the last two decades. He had it all, his guitar work, synth work, audio production skills, and a feel for music unlike anyone else."