Image copyright Genna Bain
Popular video game critic John Bain - known as TotalBiscuit and the Cynical Brit - has died aged 33.
He had 2.2 million YouTube subscribers, but retired from reviewing games in April after bowel cancer spread to his liver.
In a lengthy post on Reddit, he wrote that he did not "have long left" and said that his cancer was terminal.
After a tweet appeared on his official account confirming his passing, his wife Genna posted a poem as a tribute to her late husband.
She wrote: "I'm more overwhelmed with grief than I could possibly express".
Mr Bain rose to prominence in 2010 by uploading gameplay videos and reviews to his YouTube channel.
He was a champion of many smaller, indie titles, producing videos where he shared his first impressions of new titles. He also curated lists of game recommendations on the Steam store.
Mr Bain was also an outspoken critic of many popular top-selling games. He said many developers sought to maximise profit at the expense of game play.
Video service Twitch, where Mr Bain live-streamed gaming sessions, thanked him for his contribution to the industry.
"John Bain's opinionated game critiques and sense of humour led to him becoming one of the most prominent voices in the gaming industry," it said in a statement.
Prominent gamers took to Twitter to share their tributes.
Mr Bain first contracted bowel cancer in 2014 but under treatment the disease went into remission. However, the cancer returned and spread to his liver and spine.
What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
Bleeding from the bottom
A change in your bowel habits lasting more than three weeks
Abdominal pain, especially if severe
A lump in your tummy
Unexplained weight loss and tiredness
"Most people with these symptoms don't have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you have one or more of these, or if things just do not feel right, go to see your GP."
Source: Beating Bowel Cancer
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 Genna Bain left this tribute on Twitter.
