Giant Bomb co-founder and games journalist Ryan Davis dies aged 34

Gaming industry joins in expression of loss and sadness over an unexpected death

Ryan Davis, picture courtesy of Giant Bomb

Ryan Davis, co-founder of gaming site Giant Bomb and former Gamespot editor, has died. The news was announced on Giant Bomb’s website, though no cause of death was given. Davis passed away just days after getting married, he was 34 years old.

 “Obviously we’re all stunned over here,” wrote Matthew Rorie, product manager at Giant Bomb. “Ryan was a good friend to all of us. It’s odd to remember that, for someone who could be so acerbic at times, and despite knowing him for almost a decade, I honestly don’t recall ever actually being mad at him.”

“He had an unconventional type of kindness that expressed itself more strongly the longer one knew him, and despite his teasing nature, he always managed to make his close friends feel loved when his attention turned towards you.”

Davis was a well-known figure in the tight-knit gaming community, with his main online presence expressed through “The Giant Bombcast” – Giant Bomb’s popular podcast for industry news and gaming reviews.

Since the news of Davis’s death broke industry analysts, games makers, and fellow journalists have been expressing their sadness and sense of loss. Writing on gaming site Polygon Justin McElroy said: “I think whether they realized it or not, most people who write about video games kind of wanted to be Ryan Davis.”

“I know I did. Ryan was that rare voice that was able to be brutally critical and frank and funny, and still be well-liked by basically everybody. How could anybody walk the line that well?”

Other tributes to Davis have emerged including a website entitled Thanks Ryan, the fulfilment of a promised portrait from Davis's friend, the graphic designer and illustrator Olly Moss, as well as a thread on Giant Bomb’s own forums, where fans are sharing favourite memories of Davis.