This is what I get for trying to record the interview on my own. Also, we'll be talking about this on Hotline League, which will be live an hour after this video goes up!
I really hope Exyu gets a spot in LCS for next year, even if he can't get one now. A GM ghosting a player for more than half a week and letting them know that they're out of a job at 1 am is insane.
Also what DIG did is pretty freaking dumb ngl. Spica has been kissin ass for 2 years now. When TSM built a team around him, they got obliterated. When he got into a team with the NA toplane GOAT, LCK rookie of the year, an ADC that smurfed on Ruler and the #1 academy support the guy placed 9th bro. Even if the midlaner and support was inting, with Impact and Prince, he should've at least placed around the middle if he was a decent jungler. But the dude was dead last. Spica maybe young but I feel like the dude is washed.
Did he say he was wrapping up a CS degree from UC Berkley? Do people realize how much that degree is worth? The opportunity cost he is giving up to pursue LCS is actually incredible, he could be making a whole lot more money and coast on a much easier silicon valley software engineering job yet he is choosing to stay for the love of the game. If that is not dedication then I don't know what is.
Something Exyo said that I find very intriguing. The team was more worried about what Zven thought about coming into the team than what the team thought about Zven coming to the team. I love Zven and he is such a good player, but I think this mentality will keep Dig from ever really succeeding.
Hey Travis great interview! I think you really touched all of the points that people were discussing online and got some great responses. I like how mature he is about the whole situation even though it's very disappointing. You have gained a fan from me Exyu! Hope to see you back next year!
This is a rough situation for the players. It sounds like if the contracts favored the players more, teams would be less likely to invest (including in Tier 2) because they already aren't getting the financial gains they hoped for.
Yeah, there needs to be some sort of penalty/mandatory severance package when teams break contracts within a certain amount of time before the split starts or something. I know some of the teams do that anyway, but I guarantee it doesn't happen A LOT. I guess I'm not even sure if this would be legal, but it feels fucked up that they sign contracts and then can just be like "never mind, fuck it. See ya never" literally whenever they want. Idk, I suppose this one wasn't THAT close to the beginning of the split, but some of em definitely have been.
Would have loved to see the video animated where we see the faces rocking left and right when said speaker is speaking to make it seem like they're talking on video.
Imo Isles actually *should* be worried and should be telling his agent to start talking with teams because someone in the comments of another video about eXyu mentioned Chime. And he really did dominate in the NACL. FLYC already had LCS level players but Chime and Quad even carried those players.
@@shane_films that is Zven's issue. We are talking about Isles. Isles should basically try finding a new team now since DIG is super shady with this move. Run while he still can
There definitely should be changes to how contracts work. I feel like once you’re in a three year agreement there should be some protection that is very large for the player so that the organization can’t just kick them at a moments notice and without plenty of time to figure things out on top of that.
Was really excited to see how exyu was going to improve this next split, hope he gets a spot and that tier 2 gets a massive overhaul soon. Players need more protection in their contracts, I wish the player walk out garnered pre tangible results in giving the players power
That's cap. The GM, HC, and staff behind the scene knew. Everyone in LCS is only focus on themselves. Like why guarantee someone else security when your job could be on the line anytime and any day
Something I wish LCS teams did more is doing tryouts. Especially when you don't know if player personalities or synergies will work together. Teams I swear just sign the biggest name possible without any other thought about it and just hope the talents work it out.
Pretty funny for LCS teams to say that about NACL Teams. Maybe they want to look at the standings of Spring Split 2023, where amateur teams were out placing their academy teams
I get the impression that I was right about zven wanting spica based on what was said here. I really think that is what probably pushed exyu out in the end.
The whole, "I'd take $1k a year to play video games" argument is stupid. Every year you don't make a living wage when you are young is not only detrimental that year, but it affects all subsequent years. If it takes you 15 years in an industry to get to $100,000 a year in salary, then if you start at age 20, you get there at age 35. If you put it off until 25 then it's age 40, and so on. Even worse, the you've shortened the best earning years at the end of your life. You've wasted 5 solid years you could be make the MOST money in your life making absolutely nothing. If you are making $150k a year at that end of your career, then those five years gone is $750,000 dollars you just flushed down the drain because some GM in the LCS thought you weren't good enough. You never get those years back. They are gone. And this doesn't even take into account that ageism exists in the workplace and if you don't start your job until 30, you may have to spend extra years catching up and competing with younger people who don't have a spouse and kids so they can put in the extra hours to pass you. If you are 24 and doing amazing things, you might get extra opportunities. If you are 30 and doing amazing things, then that's what you were supposed to do. You aren't special.
I honestly can't believe how bad they handled this situation with Exyu. Not because it's shocking for this kind of thing to happen in esports and LCS, but because Exyu sounds like an extremely grounded player, can play well, and is not only willing to communicate with a team of non-English speakers but is so well spoken and direct that he would connect with each member of the new team individually to get some perspective, no attacking or calling out. Just good conversation. I hope this dude continues to do well and this is just a small dip in an otherwise upward trajectory of a career. We need players like Exyu bad, bro. The entire time I was watching DIG play, it felt ridiculously obvious that what any of those players needed was just more communication. Their early games were always pretty performant and the mid-late game was where you would see small mistakes or fumbles, and Exyu called that shit out like EARLY in the first episode of PROS. They basically didn't even give this dude a real shot and still surprised him with the Spica grab lmao. Kind of ridiculous, I hope its fun to hate on Dignitas this year.
Excellent interview as always. I agree the players need more protection in their contract when these situations occur. Also make lcs 16 teams you cowards
Feels so weird having this discourse over NA talent when Spica is literally also an NA talent. Like I get that Exyu is younger and newer but everyone is talking about the Spica change as if Spica is some D tier Korean they dragged over. Spica is a good personality that honestly is better for the league then Exyu. Sucks his dream blew up but thems the brakes.
I think eXyu just fumbled his words a bit. I think he meant younger talent or something. I mean he's a fresh player so he probably isn't used to long interviews. Also instead of signing Spica they should've just signed Tyler1 and keep the rookie roster. They're going to suck anyways so might as well make some good content and get some fans.
@@NyangisKhan idk. With this roster I feel like now there is almost no team in LCS that is completely hopeless of winning besides maybe IMT. Also DIG finally getting some players that have fans and good content personalities is really good. Hopefully they use them and actually make some content.
I understand that what dig did was really shady but Spicas simply just better. I do however feel bad for Exyu hopefully he’ll get another chance somewhere else.
Honestly my take is most people aren't upset in regards to who's a better player, just the way things were done seem really shitty. Sadly not the first time an org has done something in a shitty manner that overshadow whether the move was good or not.
Lmao dig really hates dig and seem to be doing everything possible to run their brand into the ground. I wish the best for the players and the worst for the org.
Maybe I misunderstood but it sounds like Exyu is unwilling to go above and beyond with his practice. Which I understand but I feel like it’s better he is out of the league then. I don’t think the top tier of competitors in any scene agree with that sentiment.
You missed out the context, he said for 2k a month in tier 2 he wasn't willing. To be fair, I wouldn't either if I also had to pay for everything. That is practically poverty wages in my area.
I know it's been a week and he's had time to process things, but I'm incredibly impressed with his professionalism and humbleness. Dude got screwed by his org in a shady way. I realize he needs to be to some extent if he wants to get back in the LCS but at 23 it's very impressive to act that way towards everyone.
