Skilled North American Counter-Strike 2 participant Zack “XotiC” Elshani has revealed he’s stepping down from NRG’s energetic roster. The 24-year-old AWPer cited difficulties juggling between competitors and “operating a number of companies.” Josh “oSee” Ohm has been referred to as upon to fill the now-vacant spot.
NRG Receives Surprising Information
XotiC stepping down from the NRG roster comes as an enormous shock, contemplating his and the group’s current success. The North American roster certified for the StarLadder Budapest Main, the place they upset FaZe Clan and Ninjas in Pyjamas whereas taking part in with a coach stand-in.
To many North American followers, XotiC was additionally thought-about one of many area’s most promising AWPers. He posted a 1.12 score on NRG previously three months, particularly with a stable efficiency all through his first-ever Main.
Not The Cause You’d Anticipate
Sometimes, esports professionals step down from groups attributable to burnout or to hunt one other group. Nevertheless, in XotiC’s departing assertion, he talked about he was struggling to “steadiness aggressive CS with operating a number of companies.”
Full assertion from xotic 👇”After numerous thought, I’ve determined to step down from the NRG CS2 group. Balancing aggressive CS with operating a number of companies has turn into more and more troublesome, and making an attempt to separate my focus has finally meant neither will get the eye it… pic.twitter.com/25IVqyXHLj— NRG CS2 (@nrgcs2) December 23, 2025
That form of rationalization instantly left followers scratching their heads, particularly given NRG’s current StarLadder Budapest Main qualification. It’s no secret that securing a spot at a Main typically comes with substantial sticker income, with many gamers incomes nicely into six figures.
Followers are left questioning precisely what these “companies” are and whether or not XotiC is making greater than sufficient exterior Counter-Strike to justify stepping away at what gave the impression to be the height of his profession.
It additionally makes the choice extra intriguing, given how nicely XotiC carried out throughout NRG’s current run. If he was already dividing his time between skilled Counter-Strike and his enterprise ventures, it raises the query of how a lot larger his ceiling might have been had he solely targeted on professional play.
So Many Questions, So Little Solutions
XotiC’s choice to step down from NRG naturally left followers with extra questions than readability. Many are speculating what sort of companies he was operating, to the purpose that leaving one of many prime North American groups on the top of his profession could be value it.
Pops again up after 5 years. Performs one season of professional cs. Reveals some promise. Leaves to run his “a number of companies.”This dude is really an enigma. https://t.co/Y4PTLD7z0r— DarfMike (@DarfMike) December 23, 2025
Customers on HLTV.org did some digging, looking for LinkedIn profiles below XotiC’s identify. Of their search, they stumbled throughout an account below the identical identify that seemed to be concerned in e-commerce.
No matter what these ventures could also be, XotiC’s state of affairs is among the extra uncommon methods a participant has benched himself in fashionable esports.
