Saberlight explains Shopify Rebellion exit: "My opinions were met with backlash":
Shopify Rebellion announced the departure of Jonas “Saberlight” Volek from its Dota 2 team.
Initial reports suggested the North American roster’s underwhelming performance as the cause, however, Saberlight's recent statement paints another picture.
Photo: ValveDeteriorating chemistry with a key team member
While Shopify Rebellion's official announcement framed Saberlight’s departure as a mutual decision citing performance issues and the team’s struggle to find its footing, the player’s statement hints at underlying issues which started to create a rift within the team, hindering the team’s synergy in process.
Saberlight revealed that "disagreements with a key player from the team" hindered the team's progress and that "interactions got worse and worse," leading him to believe his continued presence wouldn't benefit the team.
Saberlight felt his voice and opinions were met with backlash and ultimately caused more harm than good, preventing him from being the teammate and player he aspired to be.
He implied that the “attitude needed to win The International (TI)” might differ from what was sufficient for success in the North American Dota 2 scene.
Uncertain future, retrospection and streaming
Following his exit, Saberlight thanked Shopify Rebellion for their support and hinted at taking a break to regroup. He said, “I feel like the correct route to get there is using this time to take a step back, regain my passion, and come back stronger.”
His departure also means we see more of Saberlight destroying pubs on his Twitch livestream and hopefully standing in for a team when the calling comes.
He ends up thanking his fans for continuously supporting him through thick and thin and is genuinely optimistic about what the future holds.
Saberlight remains a valuable asset in the Dota 2 competitive scene and is certain to bounce back on a stronger note. After all, he would rather choose to do what is right for him, than mindlessly follow something that isn’t.
Shopify Rebellion’s search for an Offlaner
The team is on the hunt for a new offlaner to fill the void left by Saberlight but their struggles go beyond this roster change.
Despite a relatively weak North American Dota 2 scene granting them easy access to major tournaments, Shopify Rebellion has consistently underperformed, failing to live up to expectations.
The current state of NA Dota 2 esports points to the depleting player base actively trying to go pro in the absence of a healthy tier-2 scene or the much-needed infrastructure.
Once the home of former TI champions, the scene is now riddled with mediocrity, poised to go obsolete if things fail to change