Game critic John Bain, more commonly known by the aliases TotalBiscuit and the Cynical Brit, died today after a protracted battle with cancer, according to tweets from his official account and his wife’s account. Bain was 33.
Bain revealed in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment. In 2015, Bain announced that his cancer was terminal, though he continued to work on his popular YouTube channel and The Co-Optional Podcast. Earlier this year, Bain announced he was retiring from game criticism, saying that conventional treatment methods had become ineffective.
Bain’s career as a game critic and personality spanned more than a decade. He gained prominence for his coverage of PC software and for professional casting of games like StarCraft 2 and PlanetSide 2. His YouTube channel, which was home to TotalBiscuit’s podcast and game impressions, had more than 2.2 million subscribers. Bain was also a top Steam curator, garnering more than 800,000 followers.
H3 Podcast
John Bain, better known as Totalbiscuit, one of gaming's most popular and influential figures, has died aged 33 on Thursday. Bain was a games critic who did most of his work on YouTube.
Bain had announced earlier this month he was retiring from games criticism as a result of his failing health. He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014. The cancer went into remission but later returned, spreading to his liver and his spine.
John Peter Bain
July 8, 1984 - May 24, 2018 pic.twitter.com/XchUMNDYXC — TotalBiscuit. (@Totalbiscuit) May 24, 2018
He died May 24, 2018. His wife left this tribute on Twitter.
Rest in Peace my Dearest Love
John @Totalbiscuit Bain
July 8, 1984 - May 24, 2018 pic.twitter.com/hg9ytHsItJ — Genna Bain (@GennaBain) May 24, 2018
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After retiring from games criticism at the start of the month, YouTube personality John “Totalbiscuit” Bain has passed away.
Bain’s wife, Genna, posted about his passing on Twitter.
“Rest in Peace my Dearest Love,” she wrote.
Bain, who was 33, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014. It went into remission, only to return last year and spread to his liver and spine. Earlier this month, he announced his retirement from games criticism, saying that chemotherapy was no longer working and his liver was failing. He said he planned to continue streaming and video-making, but in the form of co-op gameplay with his wife in hopes that she’d take over his channel when he was gone.
“I fully expect The Co-optional Podcast to go on and I love the thought that once I’m gone, the channels will go on in my absence, hosted by the person who knows me best and has been with me for the better part of my adult life,” he said.
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“It’s been a privilege,” he added. “Thank you all for letting me into your life and do something so important as to have an impact on how you spend your hard-earned money.”
