G2 Esports has officially released Jacob “valyn” Batio from its VALORANT roster.
The move ends the American shotcaller’s run as the leader of one of the strongest teams in VCT Americas.
Valyn is best known as an in-game leader and controller player. He set the team’s strategy and made calls during rounds. He also decided how fast or slow the team played.
That means G2 isn’t just losing a starter. It’s losing the voice that ran its comms. The team hasn’t named a replacement or a new in-game leader.
The Guard days
Valyn’s story goes back to The Guard. He was part of the North American team that broke out in 2022.
That year, The Guard beat OpTic Gaming in the final of VCT North America Stage 1 Challengers. The win sent them to Masters Reykjavík 2022.
In 2023, The Guard won VCT Ascension Americas by beating M80 in the final. That lineup was valyn, trent, JonahP, neT, and tex. Ascension was the promotion event into the international league, so the win was a big deal.
Then things got messy. The Guard didn’t finish the agreement it needed to enter the league. Riot let the players look for a new home, and G2 signed much of the core ahead of the 2024 VCT Americas season.
G2 didn’t get the full five. Valyn, trent, JonahP, and neT made the move. Leaf later joined, while tex went to Leviatán.
What he did at G2
Under valyn’s calls, G2 became a regular threat on the international stage. The team finished third at Masters Shanghai 2024. At Masters Bangkok 2025, G2 reached the grand final before losing to T1.
Rumors are already linking valyn to Fnatic. Some fans are even debating whether he would lead the team, since his slower style might suit Fnatic’s approach.
None of this is confirmed. Fnatic has made no announcement, and valyn hasn’t named his next team. Fnatic plays in VCT EMEA, so a move there would also mean a switch to a new league.
