It's no secret that Dota 2 team Fnatic is not having a good start in the 2023 DPC Season. At the end of Tour 1, the team finished last place and was relegated to Division II. The expectation from many fans was a shakeup to the roster, but the reality was far harsher.
The organization decided to shut down its Dota 2 division. Yes, Fnatic is leaving the Dota 2 competitive scene.
Quick Background
Fnatic started its Dota 2 journey when it signed the roster of Team Gamersleague in 2011. At this time, the team was situated in Europe. Notable members during the stint in this region included Johan "N0tail" Sundstein and Tal "Fly" Aizik. Then in 2015, the team moved to Southeast Asia by acquiring Team Malaysia. Since moving to SEA, Fnatic has been one of the top teams in the region.
Fnatic has actually been showing a rather consistent performance since joining the competitive scene. The team has appeared in The International for nine straight times. However, they only managed to mainly finish in the bottom half with the highest finish being fourth place during TI6.
Surprise Move
Going back to the most recent decision of the organization, a statement was released stating that they had been reflecting on the team's "sustainability and future of the title." The statement revealed that Fnatic was temporarily withdrawing from the Dota 2 Pro circuit and that the decision was "difficult but necessary."
For fans wondering what's going to happen, the organization revealed that they're working to secure a new home for the existing roster along with the staff before they formally get out of the DPC Tour 2023. The only good news, if you can call it that, is that the current roster has decided to stick together and continue to represent Fnatic in the ongoing BTS Pro Series Season 14: Southeast Asia.
Statements
Talking about the decision to leave the competitive scene, Djardel "DJ" Mampusti shared that he'll always be thankful for the chance and support that the team has given for the past eight years. He added that Fnatic is always going to be an important part of his life.
Meanwhile, Team Director John Paolo "Sandata" Bago Gonzales revealed that while this chapter does end here, the players and staff are "happy for all the memories."
What do you think? Was this a good decision by Fnatic?
