Ever since NRG’s early exit from VALORANT Champions 2023, fans have been eagerly awaiting news on the organization’s plans for the future. Recent reports indicate that two players from the team, s0m and FNS, will be stepping down from the main roster and transitioning to streaming roles for NRG starting on August 28th. This announcement was made by s0m during his stream, where he confirmed that they will be focusing on streaming while keeping an eye out for any potential opportunities in 2024.
These changes come amidst a flurry of offseason rumors and reports, with various VALORANT teams experimenting with different players to build their rosters for the upcoming year. According to George Geddes’ report, FNS will be moving to a new team, hinting at potential departures for s0m and ardiis as well. NRG is reportedly considering a rebuild around Victor and Crashies.
This marks the official separation of the OpTic Gaming core that initially formed Team Envy and eventually evolved into the NRG roster we know today. While there were some changes heading into 2023, the roster still consisted of three key players who led OpTic Gaming to victory in Reykjavík and a finals appearance at Champions 2022.
If FNS indeed joins a different team, it will signify the complete dissolution of the OpTic core. Last year, OpTic did not secure a franchise spot, leading the roster to become free agents. Most of the players found a new home in NRG, but if FNS and s0m do not return to the NRG roster, the core will be officially disbanded.
While s0m and FNS are transitioning to streaming together, it remains uncertain whether they will join a new team as a duo or individually. Both players may receive offers based on their individual skills and experience. FNS, in particular, brings a level of expertise and success as an in-game leader that few others possess, while s0m has proven himself as more than just a streamer with his performances in 2023.
s0m played a crucial role in NRG’s second-place finish in the Americas League, seamlessly replacing Marved in the controller role despite their different playstyles. Even on the international stage, s0m was not the cause of their struggles, which primarily stemmed from other teams performing exceptionally well when it mattered most.
Despite their regional success, the entire roster underperformed internationally, leading fans to anticipate changes following their disappointing performance at Champions 2023, where they were eliminated by the rookie squad Bilibili Gaming.
Source: DOTESPORTS
