G2 Esports has officially confirmed that Jacob “valyn” Batio is leaving the team. The American in-game leader has been with the organization for three years and played a big role in their success in VCT Americas.
The news came on October 27, 2026, when G2 posted a farewell message on social media. They thanked valyn for his time and shared a short video looking back at his journey with the team. Valyn replied with a simple heart emoji and later shared his own thoughts in a video.
Valyn’s Journey with G2
Valyn joined G2 in September 2023. At that time, G2 took over most of the roster from The Guard, the team that had won Ascension earlier that year. The group included players like neT, trent, and JonahP, with JoshRT as coach. That core went on to become one of the strongest teams in North America.
Under the years, G2 under valyn’s leadership won four VCT Americas titles. They also reached eight international events in a row. Their best result on the world stage came at Masters Bangkok in 2025, where they reached the grand final but lost to T1 in a close 2-3 series. At Champions Shanghai this year, they finished in the top four before being eliminated by 100 Thieves.
Valyn himself collected several individual awards. He was named VCT Americas Controller of the Year in back-to-back seasons and won IGL of the Year in 2024. In 2025 Stage 2, he was also named Grand Finals MVP. In his farewell comments, he said his only regret was that the team never won an international title together.
The Failed LYON Deal and Move to Fnatic
Before the Fnatic reports started, valyn had been linked to LYON in Mexico. There was a verbal agreement, but it depended on LYON getting a VCT Americas partner slot for the next cycle. When LYON missed out and later left Valorant completely, that option disappeared. This opened the door for other teams.
Multiple reliable sources now say valyn is set to join Fnatic in VCT EMEA for the 2027 season. Reports from Sheep Esports and Insider Gaming both point in the same direction. Fnatic has already confirmed they will remain a VCT partner for the next cycle. The British organization had a difficult 2026 season and failed to reach any international events.
Fnatic is currently rebuilding. Long-time captain Boaster is expected to leave. The team is likely to keep players like kaajak and Cloud, and add others such as marteen from Gentle Mates. If valyn joins, he is expected to take over the main in-game leader role. Cloud had not been the primary caller in 2026, so the American would step into that position.
Changes Coming at G2
On the G2 side, changes are also happening. Reports suggest Brazilian player Sato will come in to replace valyn. Meanwhile, kiNgg is expected to take over the shot-calling duties. Current player babybay is looking at options in VCT China. These moves show G2 is preparing for a new chapter in the 2027-28 partnership cycle.
Both G2 and Fnatic have secured their places as partner teams for the next two years. Riot’s updated partner list includes G2 in the eight Americas teams and Fnatic in the eight EMEA teams. This means the reported move would see a proven Americas title-winning IGL switch regions and take on a new challenge in Europe.
What Valyn Said About His Future
Valyn has not yet made an official announcement about his next team. In his farewell video, he only said he is excited about what comes next and believes the change will help him feel fresh again as a player. He also made it clear there are no hard feelings with G2 and that he still supports his former teammates.
This exit marks the end of an important era for G2 Valorant. The team that started from The Guard’s Ascension win became a dominant force in Americas under valyn’s leadership. While an international trophy stayed out of reach, the group achieved consistent success and put G2 back among the top teams in the region.
For Fnatic, adding a player of valyn’s experience and leadership could give their rebuild a strong foundation. The organization has a long history in the game and will be hoping the American IGL can help them return to international contention in 2027.
As the off-season continues, more official announcements are expected in the coming weeks. For now, G2 has said goodbye to one of their most important players of the past three years, and the Valorant community is watching closely to see where valyn lands next.
