After a prolonged battle with cancer, Minecraft YouTuber Technoblade passed away today. He was 23. His family confirmed his death in an emotional farewell video posted on his behalf. The video was titled ‘So Long Nerds’.
In his last video, he revealed his name to be Alex and his father read out the farewell message written by him for his followers. “Thank you all for supporting my content over the years,” he continued. “If I had another hundred lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time as those were the happiest years of my life,” the message read.
With over 10 million Youtube followers, Technoblade shot to fame by livestreaming and posting videos of himself playing the sandbox video game.
Technoblade’s dad in his last video released on 1st July 2022
In August 2021, Technoblade had revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer. In a fundraising video posted in February, he had explained that he underwent chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a limb salvage operation after developing a painful tumor in his right arm.
The video concludes with a message from Technoblade’s family.
Technoblade kept his personal life under wraps and little is known about him apart from his online avatar which was a picture of a crowned pig.
Youtubers like J Schlattt, Captain Puffy aka Cara, Tommy Innit, Ludwig Ahgren, Quackity and Jake Lucky paid an tribute to him.
Technoblade’s father thanked his fans in the farewell video and conveyed that a part of proceeds from online orders for his late son’s merchandise would now go to charity.
The video concluded with a written statement from his family: “From Technoblade’s earliest online days, he was always strategizing ways to delight and reward his audience – giving away online prizes, encouraging good sportsmanship, and most of all sharing his Minecraft adventures for entertainment and laughs. Even after his eventual successes he somehow managed to keep his good-natured humility, competing with an endearing balance between confidence and self-deprecating wit.”
Technoblade, a YouTube personality who built a following of millions with his wry commentary on videos of himself playing Minecraft, has died, his father announced in a video posted on his son’s account.
More than 11 million subscribers made a habit of watching screen recordings of Technoblade’s Minecraft gameplay as he provided commentary off camera. While he usually focused on what was happening in the game, in some videos he described life events as mundane as going to the D.M.V. or as devastating as receiving a cancer diagnosis.
A video titled “so long nerds,” which was posted on Technoblade’s YouTube channel on Thursday and has been viewed more than 26 million times as of Friday afternoon, departed from the channel’s usual aesthetic of colorful, pixelated bricks. Instead, a man who identifies himself as Technoblade’s father appears, sitting in a chair against a stark white background with a small white dog in his lap.
His father, who does not give his name, reads a message from his son that begins: “Hello, everyone. Technoblade here. If you are watching this, I am dead.”
The message goes on to reveal Technoblade’s first name, Alex, which he did not use online. The video also features a handful of photos of Alex with loved ones. He had rarely shown himself in his YouTube videos, preferring instead to present himself as his avatar: a crowned, sword-wielding pig.
“If I had another hundred lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time,” Alex’s letter says. “Those were the happiest years of my life.”
His father, who remains emotional throughout the video, says he and his son talked for months about whether to record a final video. Instead, Alex decided to write the letter and died about eight hours after finishing it, his father says.
“I don’t think he said everything he wanted to say, but I think he got the main points,” he says.
The video ends with a written statement attributed to Alex’s mother, who is not named. She wrote that her son avoided personal fame and was self-deprecating, even as his channel skyrocketed in popularity.
“From Technoblade’s earliest online days, he was always strategizing ways to delight and reward his audience, giving away online prizes, encouraging good sportsmanship and, most of all, sharing his Minecraft adventures for entertainment and laughs,” she wrote.
Alex’s family could not be reached on Friday. Hypixel, a gaming company that worked with Technoblade, said the family had asked that requests for comment not be forwarded to them. “The video they shared contains all information they are comfortable sharing at this time,” Don Pireso, the company’s lead administrator, said in a Twitter direct message.
Alex first publicly acknowledged his cancer diagnosis in a video posted on his channel in August. Like the others, the video showed the game while he spoke off camera. He retained his self-deprecating, humorous style, refusing to get too earnest. He also revealed his age at the time, 22.
In the video, he described how the first round of chemotherapy left him so exhausted that he could barely sit up for a virtual doctor’s appointment. Then, he joked: “Sitting in a chair, am I Superman?”
He said he was diagnosed after experiencing serious pain in his arm. He initially dismissed it as a repetitive stress injury from playing video games, but even after a few days of rest, he said, his shoulder “was swelling like crazy.”
He also implored people to get a Covid-19 vaccine, saying that the cancer treatments had weakened his immune system, putting him at greater risk of serious illness from the coronavirus.
“I’m going to go ahead and speak on behalf of all cancer patients when I say it is incredibly annoying when the hospitals are getting overworked by people dying of preventable diseases,” he said in the video. “I’m just saying, we’ve got dibs on those hospital beds.”
On social media, Technoblade’s friends and fans praised him for his humor and for being a role model among Minecraft players.
Minecraft is unlike most games because its owner, Microsoft, does not control the servers where players meet online. Players can instead create their own servers or join one made by someone else, creating a sprawling network of worlds in the Minecraft universe.
Hypixel, which runs a network of Minecraft servers, said it had created a digital memorial book for people to write messages that would be printed and sent to Technoblade’s family. The company’s tribute featured an illustration of Technoblade’s pig avatar as a statue. “In many ways, the success of many of us is tied to the success of Technoblade,” the company said.
One of Technoblade’s friends, the YouTuber Thomas Simons, better known as TommyInnit, described him on Twitter as a “legend.”
“I just know,” Mr. Simons wrote, “he’s strategizing in heaven on how to beat God.”
In a YouTube video entitled “so long nerds,” the content creator’s father shared a final message from his son with his subscribers.
“Hello everyone, Technoblade here,” the message began. “If you’re watching this. I am dead.”
In the video, Technoblade, who has kept his identity a secret, revealed that his real name was Alex. He also thanked fans for supporting his content, buying merchandise, and channel memberships and joked that his siblings “are going to college.”
“If I had another hundred lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time, as those were the happiest years of my life. I hope you guys enjoyed my content and that I made some of you laugh and I hope you all go on to live long, prosperous and happy lives.”
In just under a decade, Technoblade amassed nearly 11 million YouTube subscribers and 3.7 million Twitter followers as he shared his passion for Minecraft, a videogame where users can build virtual worlds out of blocks and create their own storylines. He went public with his cancer diagnosis back in August 2021, telling his followers during a video of himself playing the game that he sought medical help after experiencing pain in his arm that he initially believed was repetitive stress injury from gaming.
According to his father, Technoblade wrote his final message approximately eight hours before he died. Holding back tears, Technoblade’s father described his son as “the most amazing kid” anyone could ever ask for, adding: “I miss Technoblade.”
The video, which has been viewed more than 19 million times, ended with a statement from Technoblade’s family, which read: “This past year had a lot of rough spots for our son as he battled stage four cancer. But he didn’t complain, and kept using his famous strategic mind to try to beat what he knew were almost impossible odds. My son’s bravery on this path was a shining lesson to all of us who were privileged to walk it with him. Thank you for sharing his journey through it all, as he did the work he loved for his beloved fans.”
Social media has been flooded with tributes from fans, celebrities and fellow gamers.
YouTuber Ted Nivison remembered him as: “Effortlessly funny. Endlessly talented. Gone too soon. Rest easy, Technoblade.”
TommyInnit, another popular YouTuber, wrote on Twitter: “Technoblade is a f**king legend. From being a massive fan, to one of his actual friends, I can’t describe how thankful I am to have been in his life. I just know he’s strategizing in heaven on how to beat God.”
In a statement sent to CNN, Sarcoma Foundation of America paid tribute to Technoblade, sharing “deepest condolences with his family.”
Brandi Felser, CEO of the charity, said in the statement: “Technoblade rallied his supporters to raise over $500,000 to date to support sarcoma research. This allowed SFA to provide research grants in Technoblade’s name. Through these efforts, he leaves a legacy that will impact generations.”
Felser said that Technoblade will be recognized with the organization’s Courage Award, an annual honor given to individuals who inspire others “to create hope and a better life for the sarcoma community” later this year.
A popular American gamer, known to his 11 million YouTube followers as “Technoblade,” has died of cancer at age 23, his family said on Thursday night.
In a video titled “so long nerds,” his father is seen sitting on a chair, playing with a family dog as he tells fans of his son’s death.
He goes on to read out a message his son had prepared before he died.
“Hello, everyone, Technoblade here. If you’re watching this, I am dead. So let’s sit down and have one final chat,” his father says.
“My real name is Alex,” the message continues, revealing only his first name after many years of anonymity and an inside joke where users thought he may have been named Dave. His videos, which had millions of views, didn’t show his face. Instead, he used an avatar — a pig wearing a crown — and his voice was well known to many as he battled, built and joked with others playing the popular game “Minecraft.”
The video included photos of Alex with friends, and in a hospital gown, finally giving Technoblade’s fans a chance to catch a glimpse of his face.
In the posthumous message, he thanked fans for buying his merchandise and subscriptions, joking: “My siblings are going to college, well, if they want to — I don’t wanna put any dead brother peer pressure on them.”
“That’s all from me. Thank you all for supporting my content over the years. If I had another 100 lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time, as those were the happiest years of my life.”
“I love you guys,” the message added. “Technoblade out.”
His father told viewers that Alex had wanted to record a longer message, but “we waited too long” and he ran out of time. He adds that his son had a hard time focusing as his health deteriorated.
Alex mustered the strength to write the farewell message on a laptop on his death bed, about eight hours before he passed away, his father recalls, tearfully.
“He was the most amazing kid anyone could ever ask for,” he said. “You meant a lot to him.”
Twitch reveals new feature built for popular Just Chatting streams
The video, watched more than 18 million times by early Friday, prompted an outpouring of grief from his followers and fellow gamers online. Some recorded videos of their reaction to the news; others posted messages to social media.
“You’ll always be a legend,” tweeted YouTuber and Twitch streamer Jschlatt.
“I had the opportunity to express to Technoblade how much admiration and respect I had for him, not only for the massive impact he had on all of us, but also for keeping his incredible humor even in the darkest moments. I will miss him so much. Rest In Peace,” tweeted the YouTube gamer known as Quackity.
Words cannot describe how we, the entire Hypixel Team, are feeling today. Technoblade will always be remembered as one of our best, right from the start. Simon has released a statement from himself and the Hypixel Team, you can find it here > https://t.co/5HYjKsCYs4 pic.twitter.com/y04OFQ6q2E
— Hypixel Server (@HypixelNetwork) July 1, 2022
Technoblade has passed away after his battle with cancer, his father delivered a final message on his behalf today.
May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/z2dL5xzjvB
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) July 1, 2022
Technoblade told his subscribers in August he had been diagnosed with cancer, after reporting some arm ache, in a video called “where I’ve been.” He never specified the type of cancer, but had raised money with the Sarcoma Foundation of America, which supports those with a rare cancer that can arise in tissue structures, usually in limbs.
In a statement posted at the end of the farewell YouTube video and widely shared on social media, signed by “Techno’s mom,” she praises her son’s “good-natured humility,” “self-deprecating wit” and “sportsmanship” when playing “Minecraft.”
The video game sees players create and break apart various kinds of blocks in three-dimensional worlds, as they explore, build, survive and sometimes fend off mobs of moving creatures.
She thanked all those around the world who supported her son and said he had “adored and respected his fans and colleagues.” She added that he “didn’t complain” about his battle with stage four cancer, instead he “kept using his famous strategic mind to try to beat what he knew were almost impossible odds.”
“My son’s bravery on this path was a shining lesson to all of us who were privileged to walk it with him,” she added.
Technoblade, a popular Minecraft YouTuber, has died from cancer age 23.
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel titled “so long nerds” and narrated by his father, Technoblade thanked his fans and fellow streamers for their support over the years, and revealed that his real name was Alex. (He’d “accidentally” let slip he was called Dave in an earlier video.)
“Hello everyone, Technoblade here. If you’re watching this, I am dead,” he says. “Thank you all for supporting my content over the years. If I had another 100 lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time, as those were the happiest years of my life.”
In the video, Technoblade apologizes for “selling out so much in the past year” by offering merchandise, but notes that, as a result, his siblings will be able to go to college. “Well, if they want to,” he adds. “I don’t want to put any dead brother peer pressure on them.”
Technoblade’s father describes how the two discussed making a final video, but said Alex was “having a hard time doing the writing” due to the effects of his illness.
His father says Technoblade wrote the script for his final video from bed and died shortly afterwards. “I don’t think he said everything he wanted to say, but I think he got the main points,” says his father. “He finished that up and then he was done. He lived about another eight hours after that.”
In a video posted to his channel in August 2021, Technoblade revealed that he’d been diagnosed with cancer. He says his right arm had begun to hurt in July that year, and he’d initially thought it was due to repetitive strain syndrome. Eventually, he went to a doctor at the beginning of August and was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that grows in the body’s connective tissues.
“I feel a bit silly talking about this with Minecraft in the background, it feels a bit out of place,” says Technoblade in the video. “But I’m a Minecraft YouTuber — I don’t do a face-cam, which is, I guess, how most people would talk about serious things.”
He jokes in the video about how his “chemotherapy arc is going to be fantastic for content,” and how, when he was calling people to tell them about the diagnosis, “nobody took the news worse than my health insurance provider — they’ve been inconsolable for weeks.”
Messages of support, admiration, and condolences have poured in from the gaming community following Technoblade’s passing, including from members of Dream SMP — a hugely-popular Minecraft server that tells collaborative stories with well-known streamers (including Technoblade himself).
“Technoblade was someone so many of us looked up to, myself included. Thank you for everything you did for so many. The world won’t be the same without you,” tweeted another streamer, Eret.
I’ll never forget the day I met Technoblade. I left work early to play in a Minecraft tournament with him. I barely knew how to play… and the dude still carried us to win the entire fucking event.
Rest in peace, big guy. You’ll always be a legend.
— Schlatt (@jschlatt) July 1, 2022
Technoblade is a fucking legend. From being a massive fan, to one of his actual friends, I can’t describe how thankful I am to have been in his life. I just know he’s strategizing in heaven on how to beat God. This isn’t a joke. look at the screenshot.
rest in peace pic.twitter.com/ntb2C5bdLM
— TommyInnit (@tommyinnit) July 1, 2022
I’ve been rewatching Technoblade’s for the past hour
He was so witty and so humble even in the toughest of times
I’ll always look up to him
Rest In Peace <3
— ludwig (@LudwigAhgren) July 1, 2022
In a message posted to Technoblade’s online store, his family said a portion of all sales of his merchandise would be donated to the charity, the Sarcoma Foundation of America.
His family also shared a statement at the end of his final video, reiterating his appreciation and respect for his fans and fellow streamers, and his family’s desire for privacy.
We, the family of Technoblade, wanted all of you to know just how much he adored and respected his fans and colleagues.
From Technoblade’s earliest online days, he was always strategizing ways to delight and reward his audience – giving away online prizes, encouraging good sportsmanship, and most of all sharing his Minecraft adventures for entertainment and laughs. Even after his eventual successes he somehow managed to keep his good-natured humility, competing with an endearing balance between confidence and self- deprecating wit. He avoided personal fame and worked hard to keep his true identity confidential, and we ask you to continue to honor his wishes to protect his privacy and the privacy of his family.
This past year had a lot of rough spots for our son as he battled stage four cancer. But he didn’t complain, and kept using his famous strategic mind to try to beat what he knew were almost impossible odds. My son’s bravery on this path was a shining lesson to all of us who were privileged to walk it with him. Thank you for sharing his journey through it all, as he did the work he loved for his beloved fans.
Minecraft streamer and content creator Technoblade has died following an extended battle with stage four cancer, his family announced today in a public statement and video.
Techno previously revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer last August and had been sporadically updating his community on his situation while continuing to receive treatment and create content on YouTube.
In the video, posted on June 30, Techno’s father narrated a final, posthumous message titled “so long nerds,” written for such an occasion. It was filled to the brim with the creator’s signature dry and often dark humor, but also acts as one final ‘thank you’ to everyone who supported the Minecraft star over the years.
“Thank you all for supporting my content over the years. If I had another 100 lives, I think I would choose to be Technoblade again every single time. As those were the happiest years of my life,” Techno said.
“I hope you guys enjoyed my content and that I made some of you laugh. I hope you all go on to live long, prosperous, and happy lives because I love you guys. Technoblade out.”
In his message, Techno, who reveals his name is actually Alex, talks about how the money from merch and other “sell-out” pushes over the last year is being used to send his siblings to college, if they want to go, along with thanking his viewers for giving him such happy moments—all while a slideshow of images showing him throughout various points of his treatment are shown on screen.
Following Techno’s final message, his father details how he originally planned to write and record the video himself prior to his passing, but his deteriorating health and other factors kept it from happening. According to his father, he wrote the message from bed and passed away around eight hours later.
“He was the most amazing kid anyone could ever ask for,” Technoblade’s father said. “I miss Technoblade. Thank you to all of you, for everything. You meant a lot to him.”
Technoblade’s family will continue operating his merch store, with all proceeds from orders being donated to his preferred charity, The Sarcoma Foundation of America, as they want to “continue spreading his message.” This includes, in the most Techoblade fashion ever, launching a “so long nerds” collection celebrating his life.
