Team Dignitas have just announced their new-look roster for 2017. This marks the first official confirmation that evokje and Veineless have signed with the organisation, despite playing with the roster for over three months.

The news makes no mention of their former support-turned-tank captain Rasmus "Draceus" Waern who tweeted out last month that he was "no longer a part of Team Dignitas". We contacted Draceus back then and he gave the following statement:

"I'm sad to say I'm no longer a part of the Dignitas Overwatch roster, I have been playing with those guys for a very long. I just did not feel happy in the team during recent times and therefore I decided to move on. I wish them all good luck in the future and I'm certain they will do well without me. I would also like to thank Dignitas for the support they gave to our team."

At the time of his departure their was a suggestion that he had breached his contract by scrimming with his former Dignitas teammate Artur "art1er" Bischof and the new FlatEarth roster. When questioned whether he had left the team or been kicked he offered:

"I left the team. The reason I left was because I did not feel happy there anymore. It was not because I had some other offers or any other real plans. I was without a team and rather than not playing the game at all I just play with them for now, but its nothing serious and its not the reason I decided to leave."

I contacted Dignitas' Coach\Manager, Shifty, at the time to seek a better understanding of the situation. Although he wouldn't be drawn on the specifics of Draceus's departure he did give the follow statement:

"Draceus is a great player and a good guy and while I wish things could have worked out better for him here on Team Dignitas, I wish him nothing but the best with the future of his Overwatch career."

Later Draceus would be confirmed as part of FlatEarth. Since then Dignitas have been primarily trialling former Ninjas with Attitude tank powerhouse, Wat7, who has helped guide them to the Glory4gamers XTRA Cup Live Finals in Paris this weekend.

Dignitas had been keeping a relatively low profile in recent months. They had played in the doomed Realm Winter Series in early December before the event collapsed due to mismanagement. Now they emerge from a long hibernation, much like the rest of the European scene, ready to compete. In addition to the three "new" signings, the team has confirmed the pick up of Shifty as coach and that their existing players have been recontracted.

One interesting detail is that Shifty is actually working out of the United States. Combine that with the Philadelphia 76ers previous acquisition of Team Dignitas and the suggestions of a North American focus for the opening season of the Overwatch League and one might wonder if a relocation across the pond is on the cards for the Overwatch roster in 2017.

The Team Dignitas roster is now:

  • Jiri "LiNkzr" Masalin (DPS)
  • Jose Antonio "BromaS" Ramos Glez (DPS)
  • Joshua "ToxikeN" Campos (Flex)
  • Marcel "Veineless" Lehmann (Support)
  • Elvinas "evokje" Padegimas (Support)
  • Patrick "Wat7" Marwal (Tank)
  • Nicholas "Shifty" Travis (Coach/Manager)