Patrick Dane – a great writer, mentor, and friend

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We at TopMob are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Patrick Dane, our former Games Editor, who tragically died in a car accident. This news has been a shock to all who knew and worked with him, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

I was really impressed when I interviewed Patrick for the Games Editor position. He not only had a lot of industry connections, but he also genuinely played games like Overwatch and Destiny with the developers themselves – they were actually friends!

After getting to know him once he started the job, it all clicked. He’s one of the kindest people I’ve encountered in my 25+ years in the gaming world. He was approachable, a great conversationalist, and incredibly loyal – you could tell he’d get along with anyone, even while battling enemies in Destiny.

Patrick was a genuinely friendly and communicative person. He was always available on Slack – you’d often see he was in a call – but he used that time to help improve our website and support our writers. He valued everyone’s input, regardless of their role, and made sure every team member felt heard. He’d regularly connect with colleagues in both the US and Australia, even staying up late to chat with the team down under. He was a quick thinker and a lively conversationalist – I always enjoyed his enthusiastic stories during our weekly gaming sessions, even when he’d jump from one idea to the next!

He was a truly gifted writer, especially when it came to his own work. While he excelled at news, interviews, and guides, his reviews were where his passion really shone. His review of Destiny: The Final Shape was one of the best I’ve ever seen. He wasn’t afraid to try new things either, like reviewing Final Fantasy 16 as if he were completely new to the series.

You can find his writing on sites like TopMob, Tech Radar, Metro, Bleeding Cool, and This Week in Videogames. But he’ll be remembered most for the writers he helped, many of whom considered him a mentor and close friend.

Calum Patterson, Managing Editor here. Looking back, it’s remarkable to realize that it was almost three years ago – January 2023 – that we interviewed Patrick for the Games Editor position. We were searching for someone with extensive experience, strong industry contacts, and, most importantly, a genuine love for gaming, especially games that are constantly updated and evolving. Patrick exceeded all our expectations.

Patrick’s enthusiasm for his work was infectious – he even reminded me how much I enjoyed gaming. He was a pleasure to collaborate with, always contributing positively in meetings and handling every situation, even difficult ones, with kindness and grace. We all benefited from his expertise, and his impact on our website and games team is still felt today. I’ll also miss his thoughtful posts on Twitter. Rest in peace, Pat.

Jessica Filby, Deputy Games Editor, recalls how Pat transformed her view of working in the games industry. Pat’s incredible passion for gaming – he was completely immersed in games like Destiny and Overwatch, especially live service titles – shone through in everything he wrote.

Soon after Pat started at TopMob, he began mentoring me in long-form writing – a skill he excelled at. He consistently dedicated hours to carefully review my articles and opinion pieces, showing me how to structure paragraphs for better flow and encouraging me to inject humor. I truly appreciate his guidance and still apply those lessons to my writing today.

Beyond work, we had a lot of fun playing the chaotic game Helldivers 2, and we often chatted about movies or Dungeons & Dragons. He also playfully tried to get me to review games I knew I wouldn’t enjoy – I suspect because I once criticized the movie Avatar, which he loved! Pat was a huge influence on my career and a wonderful friend, and I’ll miss him dearly.

David Purcell, Head of Audience Growth, also shared: Patrick was a truly special person, and I was lucky to have known him. He took over the Games Editor role I used to have, and he excelled at it. He had an incredible passion for video games, and his arrival really energized our team, helping us achieve record-breaking results.

He consistently highlighted the beneficial effects of games on individuals and the communities built around them. This focus empowered everyday players to share their perspectives on our site, which contributed to our distinctive growth.

He was a truly kind and wonderful person, always making time for others. It’s incredibly sad to speak about him in the past. Pat mentored writers at every stage of their careers, helping them grow, and many of those he guided are now leaders in the department. He also formed deep and lasting friendships with them. Rest in peace, Patrick. We will miss him dearly.

I first met Patrick back in January 2023 when he joined the team as our Gaming Editor. As a fellow gamer and part of the TopMob crew, I was really excited to meet him, and I was glad we clicked right away – we have a similar sense of humor and just a generally positive vibe, which made working with him a lot of fun.

Patrick was my boss as Deputy Editor, but he was also a truly wonderful friend. It’s a bit of a cliché, but he was one of those people who just made everything feel brighter and better simply by being around.

Even when things got tough, Patrick consistently supported the gaming team and made sure everyone was taken care of. He was always generous with his knowledge, offering both his excellent writing and editing abilities, as well as valuable connections within the industry.

Patrick has been an incredible mentor, and I truly believe my writing skills wouldn’t be where they are today without his guidance. He’s also been instrumental in the success of TopMob.

It wasn’t all work, of course. Besides joking around during meetings, sharing memes, and playfully imagining reviewing collectibles like Avatar and Godzilla figures, we often spent evenings playing games together, laughing and chatting late into the night. We continued this tradition even after he moved on from TopMob.

I always loved our time gaming together, even if it meant we were both exhausted the next day! It didn’t matter what we were playing – getting wins in Fortnite, trying to scare each other in Dead by Daylight, fighting bugs in Helldivers 2, or just catching up – he always managed to make me laugh. Patrick was such a good friend, and I’ll always treasure those memories we made together.

I was really bummed to hear about Patrick. He seemed like a great guy to work with, and I wish I’d had more time to get to know him better. It’s always sad when someone good is gone.

I was immediately impressed when he joined TopMob in 2023. He was incredibly dedicated and passionate about gaming, and he quickly became my go-to person for anything related to Overwatch or Destiny. We often talked about playing games together outside of work, and Dead by Daylight was always at the top of our list.

We played games together occasionally over the two years I knew him, but it was hard to find time when our schedules matched. I’m really saddened that I didn’t have more opportunities to get to know such a gifted writer and editor.

I always laugh when I remember when he first started at TopMob and used to ask me for help. It was funny when I came back a year later and he teased me about how the tables had turned.

Honestly, it was just awesome working with this guy. He always brought a positive vibe and really boosted everyone’s spirits. I’ll definitely remember him as someone who made the team better, and I’ll always have a good memory of him.

As a longtime fan, I always admired Patrick. He was a genuinely positive force in the gaming world, always finding the good in everything, no matter how tough things got. Seriously, nothing seemed to get him down – not personal problems, big changes in the industry, or even when Blizzard tweaked his favorite Overwatch heroes! He just had this incredible, unwavering optimism that was really inspiring.

Despite the significant distance, Patrick went above and beyond to support the Australian team in a way I’d never seen before. He genuinely prioritized keeping us involved and valuing our input. Even with a busy schedule as Games Editor, he always found time for us, often working extra hours to do so.

I always looked forward to our regular planning meetings – they were a real bright spot in my week. We accomplished what we needed to, but they were also a chance to connect, chat about our shared hobbies, and get energized about future projects. He made work enjoyable and actually reignited my enthusiasm for the field. His passing is a huge loss, and it will be impossible to replace him.

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2026-01-08 13:52