Haksal, The Impact Of An Individual, And The Cycle Of Play

Kim "Haksal" Hyojong will always be remembered as one of the best to grace Overwatch. While his retirement has left us all gobsmacked, his story is one that permeates history. He is a figurehead of his generation, someone that undoubtedly has sparked a fire in fans and fellow players alike. Haksal’s narrative embodies the cycle of play; the life, the death, and the seeds we sometimes unknowingly plant in the hearts and minds of those we impact.

With a bold name and an even bolder play style, the Overwatch community witnessed the debut of Haksal in 2016 during OGN’s Overwatch APEX’s inaugural season. Limited in his ways when he first debuted, Haksal cemented himself as a premier Genji specialist during APEX Season 1, a title he still holds to this day. While RunAway didn’t perform all that well, narrowly unable to make it out of the group stage, this first season for them, and for Haksal, was paramount in their storied history together. 

This was a team without many resources and a massive amount of potential.

APEX Season 2 was where the kettle began to boil for Haksal and RunAway. Being able to beat Lunatic-Hai before the playoffs and entering as a competitive favourite in their rematch, that was the talk of the town as we marched into the grand finals. Favoured as they were, ultimately, Haksal and RunAway fell short against their would-be rivals. However, that alone was enough to propel both Haksal and RunAway into stardom. On top of that, you have some of the most memorable moments in competitive Overwatch history coming from specifically Haksal and RunAway. Something that isn’t talked about is that without Haksal, the window doesn’t open for one of, if not the, most iconic moment in Overwatch.

Without Haksal, there is no “eye of the kaiser”, and frankly, without Haksal there aren't a lot of things. The team that was financially fronted by a streamer and his wife took on the world. How can you not love that story? And at the centre of it, was an animated, young DPS player—at the heart of RunAway was Haksal.  

APEX Season 3 echoed a lot of what the other odd season did as well, the foundation around RunAway was shifting, and it affected their results; however, that result would not paint them into a corner. The final season of OGN’s Overwatch APEX would see their beloved bridesmaids return for one last shot at the title. Unfortunately, standing in their way was a team—and a duo—that looked unbeatable. 

Unfortunately, RunAway and Haksal would have to settle for silver once again.

2018 saw Haksal break the bonds of what we all presumed were forged in silver. He and RunAway finally, after five attempts at a major title, became champions at Overwatch Contenders 2018 Season 2 in a nail-biting finish against KongDoo Panthera. However, this success would not go unnoticed, and the entirety of the 2018 core of RunAway would be signed to the Vancouver Titans for their franchise debut in the following year.

Haksal’s performance during the 2019 Overwatch League season was something special. Under the lock and key of the GOATS metagame, Haksal—who was openly criticised for his flexibility by some heading into the regular season—not only managed, he thrived. During the 2019 season with the Vancouver Titans, Haksal led the league in eliminations and hero damage per ten minutes on Brigitte. He also led the league in eliminations, hero damage, and final blows on Doomfist. On top of that, he performed extremely well on Mei, placing third in final blows per ten minutes, second in eliminations, and fourth in hero damage done. There is no coincidence that someone who performed this statistically well won 2019’s Rookie of the Year award. 

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2020 has not been a year that anyone expected and the Vancouver Titan’s fallout exemplifies that better than almost anything else. After placing second in 2019, after locking down that year’s rookie of the year, after adding talented players, the roster just seemed to dissolve one day. Even after debuting well in 2020 with a close win over the Los Angeles Gladiators and a commanding victory over the Los Angeles Valiant—things could not be repaired. Week 10 foreshadowed the divide, and soon after the team, the core of RunAway that performed so well in 2019, was no more.

For the first time in a long time—Haksal’s career was uncertain.

He would land with the New York Excelsior and become a major weapon in their playoff attempt, but things never seemed to fit. The roster, on paper, looked incredible, but New York narrowly missed heading to the 2020 Grand Finals weekend as they were swept by the Seoul Dynasty, 0-3. 

Four years of Overwatch, four years of Haksal being a star. 

Traversing a wild, twisting, and unique road to the top, Haksal battled through multiple eras of Overwatch and always was both a fan favourite and an all-star. Haksal’s impact on Overwatch history is inarguable, however, using a different lens, we can begin to ponder on the greater reach of what his legacy might mean for the game—and the games to come.

Visualantics’ esports documentary State Of Play is a stunning look into the South Korean professional StarCraft: Brood War scene throughout 2011 and 2012. The film beautifully highlights the entire path of a professional gamer, a true “cycle of play”. However, a tenant of the film that lies subtly under the surface is the exploration of just what one person’s path can do for so many others. Looking at the journey before even starting the race, from during the race itself, and giving a viewpoint to the often-overlooked perspective of a legend at the end of his tenure looking on the twilight of his career, the totality of having a career in esports sits at the heart of State Of Play. However, the throughline is the impact that StarCraft legend Lee “Jaedong” Jae-dong has had.

We don’t need to look all that far in Overwatch for examples of direct impact. Haksal is a shining pillar of this example. From him breaking the mould with his signature pick of Genji to his vow to flexibility during the 2019 Overwatch League season. However, think of all the indirect impacts that people like Haksal have had on younger players, think of the impact he has had on the myriad of fans that would rally during RunAway games, he has driven this ship forward. 

That said, comparisons are not the focus here, Jaedong is an individual with his own accolades and legends as is Haksal, but the common theme here is the impact they have had, either on the fans or their fellow players and the path they’ve carved not only for themselves but for the esports ecosystem as a whole. One chapter of the film captures this eloquently. 

Jaedong’s first BlizzCon was in 2011, where he sat in the audience to watch the next generation of talent battle for the throne—one, in a way, he helped build. He knew his era was coming to an end, the game he loved, the game he became great at, was dying. Funnily enough, the winner of that event was StarCraft 2 great Mun "MMA" Seong Won, someone who has transitioned into Overwatch and is currently with the Seoul Dynasty as a member of their coaching staff. Humour this thought experiment; perhaps without Jaedong, we don’t get an MMA, and without an MMA, maybe Overwatch history is irrevocably changed. Same goes for Haksal, and to be fair and clear; it isn’t as if he’s gone forever—if anything—the 2020 offseason has shown us that perhaps retirement isn’t forever. That said, it doesn’t mask the overwhelming feeling of loss that his retirement and the retirement of many other Overwatch names has hung on the Overwatch ecosystem—and that isn’t to point blame to any one person or thing, it is simply an admission of the feeling in the room.

A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.

— Jackie Robinson

Much like the rotation of games that Jaedong witnessed, like the churn of rookies and veterans and retirements, it’s natural for things to come and go. To be overly symbolic, it is the cycle of life and death, more simply, it is trends coming and going, a constant parallel with the focus of State Of Play; the “cycle of play”, the highs, the lows, the path to esports in its entirety, from the plucky debut to the journey of the end. The State Of Play is the cycle of play, and that is reflected in everything. 

A dream of becoming a pro-gamer, dashed with all the effort in the world put in. The return of a champion swallowed whole by the gluttonous void of time. A passion lost, a dream dashed, and facing the unknown. The State of Play, as a documentary, showcases a generation of esports talent that predated Haksal’s debut by nearly four years and yet most of its messages ring true with his career—it seems like time truly is a flat circle. 

Being a unique rookie, battling through the ranks with his rough and tumble team. Finally becoming a champion in the summer of 2018 and going to the Overwatch League shortly after and continuing his success. Facing adversity, joining the NYXL part-way through 2020 and an eventual decline. Haksal’s career echoes this cycle of play. He is a spoke in the wheel of time, someone who stands next to the legends of esports past, and together they forge new slots for the future to fill. Haksal’s story will echo in the hearts and minds for generations to come.

I wonder if Haksal is happy now, if he can finally rest his weary head on the laurels of his achievements and be content knowing not only that he’ll live on as one of the best players to touch the game but knowing that maybe he helped sow the seeds of a dream for the next generation. But for now, he sits on the horizon. Perhaps he’s waiting, but on the flip-side of that coin is forever. 

The wheel of time continues to turn whether we’re here to help push it along or not. The cycle of play spins in tandem to that. We, as people, have to follow in the footsteps of people like Haksal and people like Lee Jae-dong. They’ve all touched us with their passion, their resilience and their drive. Ask yourself; what kind of legacy will I lead? What do I want my story to be? We have to hold our stubborn persistence in the face of a world that can and will constantly throw obstacles in our path. In the face of that all, we have to carry on and, and more importantly, we have to be sure to leave the light on for the next person in line.

Thank you, Haksal—for everything. 

Images via Blizzard Entertainment