Highlights
- Core FaZe Clan creators have exited following the collapse of contract negotiations with new management.
- Financial strain and restructuring remain central issues, with FaZe’s business model described as unsustainable despite significant investor funding.
- Concerns over creator control have resurfaced, compounding challenges after layoffs and FaZe’s $17M acquisition by GameSquare.
FaZe Clan is facing renewed uncertainty after key creators announced their departures following failed contract negotiations with new management, with the exits confirmed over the Christmas period after months of talks collapsed.
According to Bloomberg, the departures involve Alexander Prynkiewicz, known online as FaZe Adapt, along with Jason Nguyen, Nick Fosco, Jerry Woo, Stable Ronaldo, and creators known as Lacy, Rage, and Silky, who collectively made up the full roster listed on FaZe Clan’s website.
Prynkiewicz reflected on his long tenure in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “14 years. Over half of my life,” and said the decision was painful but necessary.
As of Dec. 26, Josh Maynard, known online as YourRage, had not publicly announced a departure. The coordinated exits surprised fans and have raised immediate questions about the organization’s future direction.
Contract Talks, Finances, and Control Issues at FaZe Clan
Bloomberg reported that the departures followed unsuccessful contract negotiations with HardScope, a creator-focused company backed by investor Matt Kalish. The discussions lasted about six months.
According to Kalish, FaZe's financial structure was "unsustainable," prompting the organization to offer creators the choice to either operate independently or enter into new agreements. “My best guess is they’re all good kids and have a lot of people in their ear and are confused,” he said. Kalish also mentioned he has invested about $10 million USD into the talent group over the past 18 months.
Concerns about control had surfaced earlier when PlaqueBoyMax, who left FaZe Clan earlier this year, said during a livestream that creators felt they had “no control,” describing the situation as feeling like “we’re puppets.”
Founded in 2010 as a YouTube collective, FaZe Clan expanded into global esports and lifestyle content, including a major Fortnite World Cup win in 2019, where FaZe players earned $3M. The company went public in 2022 with expectations of a $1B valuation, but later fell to penny stock status.
By 2023, FaZe had laid off roughly 20% of its workforce and replaced its chief executive officer, before being acquired by GameSquare for $17M. With FaZe Clan’s core creators gone, FaZe now faces a defining moment for its creator-driven model.
