Esports powerhouse Fnatic has announced that it will be disbanding its Dota 2 team in Southeast Asia and taking a break from the game’s competitive scene.

The reason behind this move is the team’s poor performance in the Winter Tour regional league, where they ended up with a 1-6 record, leading to their demotion to Division II for the Spring Tour. In a statement, the organization stated that the decision to withdraw from Dota 2 was a challenging but essential step. “We have had to consider the future viability of Dota 2 for Fnatic, and as a result, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily leave the Dota Pro Circuit,” the statement said.

After reflecting on the sustainability of our DOTA 2 roster, we've made the difficult decision to temporarily withdraw from the title.

Above all, we want to thank the ever-passionate SEA audience and all players and staff that have supported us with the title. Read more:

— FNATIC (@FNATIC) February 10, 2023

In a Twitlonger post, Team Director Paolo Bago disclosed that the worsening economic situation in the West was another factor behind Fnatic’s withdrawal from Dota 2. Although the Southeast Asian Dota 2 team was based in the United Kingdom, the esports organization is headquartered in the UK.

Bago stated, “It has been a week since I was informed that due to the declining economy in the western market and the impending recession putting pressure not only on Fnatic but many other companies within and outside the industry, the company would be dropping Dota 2 to focus on other ventures and reduce losses.” He also noted that esports is inherently unstable and Dota 2 is even more volatile compared to other titles.

Fnatic mentioned in its statement that it is working on finding a new home for its players and staff before formally exiting the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC). The team’s final tournament will be the Southeast Asian edition of BTS Pro Series Season 14, which concludes on February 16. The organization expressed its gratitude to its players, staff, and fans, who have been a part of this amazing journey. Djardel “DJ” Mampusti, Fnatic’s star support player and longest-serving member, also expressed his gratitude and said that his time with Fnatic “will always be an important part of my life.”

Fnatic first entered the Dota 2 scene in 2011 with a Serbian team and went on to become one of the top organizations in Europe, fielding legendary players such as N0tail and Fly. The organization took a brief hiatus in 2014 but returned to Dota 2 in 2015 when it moved to Southeast Asia and acquired Team Malaysia, with DJ joining the roster in August of that year.

Since its move to Southeast Asia, Fnatic has competed in every iteration of The International (TI), Dota 2’s annual world championship tournament, as well as in 17 Majors. The organization’s fourth-place finish at TI6 remains the highest placement for a Southeast Asian team in any TI since Orange Esports’ third-place finish at TI3.

With its departure from Dota 2, Fnatic’s remaining active esports teams include its League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, VALORANT, Halo, Rainbow Six: Siege, FIFA, and Apex Legends rosters.