What happened to Faze Clan: Christmas Day brought an unexpected shake-up in the gaming world as five prominent FaZe Clan creators announced they were leaving the organization, sending shockwaves through the esports community and raising questions about the brand’s future.
The departing members include Alexander Prynkiewicz, famously known as FaZe Adapt, along with Jason Nguyen, Nick Fosco, Jerry Woo, and Stable Ronaldo. These creators were part of FaZe Clan’s core esports and content lineup.
“I’d be lying if I said this didn’t hurt, but it had to be done. 14 years. more than half of my life.” Prynkiewicz wrote on X in reflection of his departure. The others confirmed their departure with brief posts. According to USA Today, Josh Maynard, also known as YourRage, had not made a formal announcement about his departure as of December 26.
Failed Contract Talks with New Management
Bloomberg reported that the exits followed months of failed contract negotiations with FaZe Clan’s new management. The discussions involved HardScope, a company backed by investor Matt Kalish, who has been associated with FaZe since last year.
Kalish described FaZe’s financial setup as “unsustainable” and offered creators the choice to either operate independently or sign new agreements with HardScope. He added, “My best guess is they’re all good kids and have a lot of people in their ear and are confused.” Bloomberg noted the creators felt the new terms were unfavorable, leading to the collapse of six months of talks.
Creators Question Autonomy
Concerns about creative control have been a growing issue. Earlier this year, PlaqueBoyMax, another former FaZe member, explained during a livestream, “We have no control… it’s like we’re puppets. At least that’s what it felt like.”
Kalish, who co-founded DraftKings, has invested around $10 million in FaZe talent over the past 18 months, aiming to help creators build sustainable media careers beyond traditional esports contracts.
What is FaZe Clan?
FaZe Clan started in 2010 as a group of friends posting Call of Duty trick-shot videos on YouTube. Originally called FaZe Sniping, they quickly gained popularity and expanded into competitive esports and lifestyle content, producing vlogs and livestreams often while living together.
The organization has seen major successes, including a $3 million win at the 2019 Fortnite World Cup, and partnerships with big names like the NFL, Nissan, and Champion. In 2021, FaZe became the first esports organization to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Yet, FaZe has faced its share of controversies and financial struggles. In 2021, some members were fired or suspended over a cryptocurrency scam. By 2023, roughly 20% of the workforce was laid off, and the CEO was replaced. After going public in 2022 with a $1 billion valuation, the company later fell to penny-stock status due to concerns over its sponsorship-based model.
Later in 2023, GameSquare Holdings acquired FaZe’s parent company for $17 million. While esports operations continue under GameSquare, the creator-focused initiatives are evolving amid ongoing challenges.
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