FaZe Clan, the once-mighty esports and entertainment company, is entering a critical period after the recent withdrawal of a number of key influencers. This comes soon after its explosive growth post back in 2022 with its public listing. It recently passed hands to GameSquare for $17 million in 2023. The recent upheaval has cast doubt on the organization’s long-term direction and stability.
The crisis kicked off after FaZe Clan’s CEO was suddenly ousted, setting in motion a chain reaction of exits among its influencers. Adapt, a longtime activist and a mainstay of Adapt who spent 14 years with the group. His exit was clearly the right choice. He insisted that the confluence of events leading to his exit were beyond his control, stressing the internal conflict now roiling the gaming community.
That influencer, who departed in August, voiced similar thoughts, describing a sense of helplessness among the influencers. They described the situation as one where they felt “no control, and it’s like we’re puppets.” As employees are quitting, this has led many of the influencers still at FaZe Clan to voice their frustrations. They are frustrated by the state of affairs of their organization’s leadership and trajectory.
Despite this chaos, Kalish, the current leader of FaZe Clan, remains steadfast. Undaunted, he is committed to keeping the coalition moving in a positive direction even after the departure of these movers and shakers. Kalish emphasized that he’s going to keep moving forward without the influencers who’ve left. He expressed concerns about the influence of external voices on those who left, suggesting that they “have a lot of people in their ear and are confused.” This already shows that Kalish is understanding of the difficulty in keeping an organization unified and headed in the right direction.
Whether these recent major changes signal a shifting strategic vision for FaZe Clan going forward remains to be seen. With the recent acquisition by GameSquare and a public listing, the organization must navigate these changes while maintaining its brand identity and community support. The departure of established influencers may impact its market position and appeal among fans, who have long associated their favorite personalities with the FaZe Clan brand.
