NRG Esports has declared its departure from the world of Apex Legends esports, placing the blame squarely on EA for failing to provide adequate support to esports and organizations as the primary reason behind their decision.
After a five-year presence in Apex Legends, during which the organization saw various streamers and professional players come and go, NRG has opted to withdraw from the esports scene entirely. The organization has released its players from the ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series) squad and had already cut ties with many of its Apex Legends content creators several months ago.
NRG has explicitly pointed to EA and Respawn’s insufficient support for esports and the teams involved as the principal motivation behind their exit.
Jaime Cohenca, Chief Gaming Officer at NRG Esports, made this statement on social media: “With the release of our team, I can also confirm that NRG will not be fielding a roster for ALGS going forward. We feel EA/Respawn have not done enough to support orgs and made the tough call to take a step back.”
Throughout their time in the Battle Royale title, NRG did not secure any S-Tier trophies but did manage to secure placements within the top 15 in multiple events, with their highest achievement being second place in the 2023 Split 1 Playoff.
NRG now joins a growing list of esports organizations departing from Apex Legends, a trend that includes Cloud9, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid. The esports industry has been grappling with economic challenges, and reports suggest that EA has not been offering organizations opportunities to generate revenue through in-game cosmetic sales.
According to a report from Digiday, EA and Respawn abandoned plans to implement revenue-sharing agreements with organizations for in-game item sales involving 20 different teams. EA’s offer reportedly included a $60,000 licensing fee, but some organizations expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposal, offering a counter-proposal which EA rejected. Consequently, many of these organizations disbanded their ALGS squads and left the competitive scene.
Longtime NRG player Christopher ‘sweetdreams’ Sexton shared a statement on social media, officially announcing the organization’s exit from Apex Legends and providing fans with an update on the roster. He indicated that the squad would continue competing in Year 4 of the ALGS, although he did not make any promises regarding the team’s future composition. Sweetdreams acknowledged the sadness surrounding NRG’s departure from Apex Legends but expressed optimism about finding a new home and contributing to the game’s realization of its full potential.