Major in-game memorials have been taking place following the death of professional World of Warcraft player and streaming personality Byron “Reckful” Bernstein.
Bernstein reportedly died by suicide earlier this week – he was 31 years old.
Players from around the world across multiple WoW and WoW Classic servers gathered in Azeroth’s Stormwind Cathedral to kneel and celebrate Reckful’s life. The World of Warcraft team paid tribute to Bernstein on Twitter, calling him “one of the most memorable WoW players of all time.”
Twitch issued its own statement, noting Reckful’s pioneering impact on the platform “Byron was someone who talked about his struggles to help make room for others to do the same”, the statement reads. “As we process this loss, we have to recognize that the stigma around mental health and treatment often prevents people from seeking and getting the help they need.”
Today we all witnessed not only the largest in-game memorial but also the largest in-game player-driven event in the history of World of Warcraft
In times like this it’s easy to think of the evil that people are capable of but we can’t forget the purity and kindness as well. pic.twitter.com/5mzOSZrM3Z
— Zack (@Asmongold) July 3, 2020
If you are having suicidal thoughts or just need to talk to someone, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 if you’re in the US. For a list of international helplines and resources, click here. (Hyperlink the last line to this url: http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html)
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Source: IGN.com World of Warcraft Sees Huge In-Game Memorials Following Death of Streamer