Team Falcons explains exit from Dota 2, cites long-term sustainability
Team Falcons has officially stepped away from Dota 2, with the Saudi Arabia-based organization citing its long-term strategy and operational sustainability as the main reasons behind the decision.Falcons announced its…
Team Falcons has officially stepped away from Dota 2, with the Saudi Arabia-based organization citing its long-term strategy and operational sustainability as the main reasons behind the decision.
Falcons announced its departure from competitive Dota on Sept. 6, sharing a farewell video that showed the team’s accomplishments across its nearly three-year stint, including its victory at The International 2025.
“Farewell, Dota 2. It’s been an incredible ride. Thanks to the players, staff, and the community for the unforgettable memories,” the organization said.
In a follow-up statement, Falcons said it conducted a “strategic review” of its multi-title esports roadmap for 2026 and beyond before deciding to leave the game.
“At Team Falcons, our goal is to build long-term, high-impact programs across global esports,” the org said.
“While Dota 2 holds a legendary place in competitive gaming, our global focus is shifting toward expanding ecosystems that offer greater strategic alignment and long-term operational sustainability for our organisation,” it added.
The development ended an almost three-year run for the longest-running five-man roster and one of the most successful lineups in Dota 2 history. Oliver “skiter” Lepko, Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak, Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen, Wu “Sneyking” Jingjun, and coach Kurtis “Aui_2000” Ling formed the team in November 2023 and stayed through TI 2026, reaching a total of 799 games with an impressive 65.4% win rate.
Team Falcons’ biggest achievement came at TI 2025 in Hamburg, Germany, where they won the Aegis of Champions in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Xtreme Gaming. The team collected a total of 11 trophies in the post-DPC era, including seven tier-1 tournament titles.
The roster’s final campaign ended at TI in Shanghai, where Falcons finished seventh-eighth after losing to Nigma Galaxy 1-2 in the upper bracket first round and bowing to Team Liquid 1-2 in the succeeding lower bracket match.
Cr1t- had already hinted at retirement after their TI exit, while Aui_2000 announced his departure from professional Dota shortly after the tournament. Meanwhile, ATF, Malr1ne, skiter, and Sneyking have been linked to potential moves, although those rumors remain subject to confirmation.
Malr1ne reportedly said that he would continue playing alongside ATF, telling viewers during a stream that they would be “on the same team.” Sneyking is rumored to join a Chinese squad while skiter is expected to continue his career.