Singapore-based Reality Rift shuts Dota 2 team
A month after releasing Andrew "Drew" Halim, Singapore-based Reality Rift's Dota 2 team is no more, though a 2021 return is possible.
Taking to social media on Tuesday (1 Sep) to explain his decision, CEO Ilya Vlasov addressed fans, saying that multiple reasons of "similar importance" led to the decision.
Vlasov cited travel restrictions due to Covid-19, "low effort management" of the esports scene from Dota 2 developer Valve, and budget pressure on Reality Rift's core business, a gaming arena in Singapore, as factors.
"We have plans to return next year, but we also had plans to not having a virus outbreak this year, so planning not necessarily works all the time as you might have noticed.," Vlasov said in his post.
He also added that Wong "NutZ" Jeng Yih and Lee "kYxY" Kong Yang would become free agents as of 1 Sep, while Ravdan "Hustla" Narmandakh and Vincent “AlaCrity” Hiew Teck Yoong were still under contract, and the organisation would be open to discussing potential opportunities for them.
"It was a great run, we had our ups and downs, but I’m quite sure that without covid we would have achieved everything with this team. I want to say thank you to everyone who was involved in this venture," Vlasov wrote.
"Thank you for the hard work, passion, and motivation! We will do our best to come back next year to the game we love."
Reality Rift first appeared on the Dota 2 scene in 2019, winning the Singapore leg of Acer’s Predator League.
They most recently competed in the OMEGA League: Asia Divine Division, where they were knocked out in the playoffs by Filipino team Execration.
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