Lunatic-Hai, one of Overwatch's most storied organisations, have withdrawn from the competitive scene. Their roster has been disbanded as a result of this move. Issues with Contenders Korea were cited in the organisation's official announcement, alongside the pressure to quickly make decisions due to the immediacy of Contenders and Team Story Chapter 3.
Their late withdrawal from Team Story was an early warning sign of their disbandment, sparking rumors that have now been confirmed. Many members of the Korean scene have expressed doubts over the financial viability of investing in the countries' Contenders division. Players are also reportedly reluctant to sign Contenders contracts with non-Academy teams due to the required buyouts to join an Overwatch League franchise when the transfer window opens in February. The minimum buyout for an Overwatch League franchise to acquire a Contenders player that is not a part of their Academy roster is $12,500 USD, as per the Contenders rulebook.
Members of the disbanded roster, which was formed around the core of Lunatic-Hai 2 in December last year, are now looking for a team. Many are pursuing opportunities with Overwatch League Academy rosters in the North American division of Contenders.
Lunatic-Hai stated that they are now "not looking to establish a team for the time being" in their announcement. Known for their back-to-back APEX championships with the current core of the Seoul Dynasty, the loss of such a well respected organisation is undoubtedly a significant blow to the Korean scene, and has stoked further dissatisfaction in the countries' competitive community.
Lunatic-Hai's roster was:
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