Gen.G resets VALORANT team, only retains one player
After a middling season in VCT Pacific, Gen.G has opted for a near-full reset on its VALORANT roster in 2024.
08th Sep 2023 20:25
Gen.G
Gen.G resets VALORANT team, only retains one player
After a middling season in VCT Pacific, Gen.G has opted for a near-full reset on its VALORANT roster in 2024.
08th Sep 2023 20:25
Gen.G
In a dramatic reshuffling, Gen.G has announced a near-total overhaul of its VALORANT roster on September 8, retaining just one player, Kim "Meteor" Tae-O, from the 2023 lineup.
All other players and coaching staff have been released following the expiration of their contracts, with the South Korean organisation now tasked with building a fresh team around Meteor as they gear up for the 2024 VCT season.
Contract expiration drives major team overhaul
According to the official announcement, the primary reason behind the release of the five players and two coaches was the expiration of their contracts.
The departures include prominent team members such as Lee "k1Ng" Seung-won, Yu "TS" Tae-seok, Kim "GodDead" Sung-sin, Ko "Sylvan" Young-sub, and Yeom "eKo" Wang-ryong, alongside head coach Chris "Elmapuddy" Tebbit and coach Lee "bail" Sung-jae.
Despite a promising start in the VCT Pacific League, where they celebrated four consecutive wins, the team faced significant setbacks from week five onwards, culminating in a series of losses.
Even so, their initial performance assured a playoff spot, eventually settling in a commendable fourth place. The consistent efforts of players like TS were noteworthy in achieving this league standing, behind teams such as Paper Rex, DRX, and T1.
Reflecting on a season marked with "ups and downs," coach bail took to social media to express his mixed feelings and the uncertainty looming over his future.
Meanwhile, Elmapuddy acknowledged the language barrier issues that marred his tenure, rendering him unable to imprint his vision on the predominantly Korean-speaking team. "We tried, but with the team speaking Korean I just couldn’t have the level of impact I wanted," the coach reflected.
A future built around meteor
With Meteor as the solitary player remaining from the previous season, Gen.G is at a pivotal juncture, preparing to forge a new path in the 2024 VCT season.
The new formation is anticipated to bring together a blend of experience and fresh talent, ready to represent Gen.G on home soil in Seoul, leveraging Meteor’s capabilities to the fullest.
As the team embarks on this new chapter, players showcase readiness for new opportunities. eKo expressed his desire to keep pursuing his competitive career, pointing out that he’s able to communicate in Japanese and English.
Meanwhile, TS is open to offers from "all regions," underscoring a readiness to embrace opportunities from across the globe.
About The Author
Sascha Heinisch
Sascha "Yiska" Heinisch is a Senior Esports Journalist at GGRecon. He's been creating content in esports for over 10 years, starting with Warcraft 3.
