John ‘TotalBiscuit’ Bain dies, aged 33

John Bain, better known by his online persona of TotalBiscuit, has passed away at the age of 33.

Bain retired from games criticism at the start of May after being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014. During his retirement he claimed that the chemotherapy was no longer working, and his liver was failing. He said he planned to continue streaming and making videos, in the form of co-operative gameplay with his wife. He had hoped she would take over his successful Youtube channels after his death.

It was Bain’s wife, Genna, who posted about his death on Twitter.

TotalBiscuit was one of the earliest YouTube and Twitch success stories, and built a following through commentary of StarCraft 2 matches but also analysis and examination of newer titles, several of them small indie titles feature in his "WTF is…?" series. In 2014, he appeared on MCV’s BritList.

However, he was also an incredibly controversial figure in recent years due to many accusations of harassment, some of this harassment playing out over Twitter, and his on/off involvement with hate movement Gamergate.

In the post announcing his retirement, he said: “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.

He added: “It’s been a privilege. 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.”