Mike “Hastr0” Rufail has officially revived Team Envy, bringing back one of esports’ most celebrated brands alongside its iconic Call of Duty and Overwatch counterparts, Dallas Empire and Dallas Fuel. This marks a new chapter for Envy Gaming, as Hastr0 steps away from any association with OpTic Gaming.
Hastr0 revealed that he seized the opportunity to re-acquire the Envy brand, stating, “Post-transaction, I will not be a shareholder or associated with OpTic. My team will gain access to the social media accounts for the brands next week.” This confirms the full independence of Envy from its 2021 merger with OpTic Gaming, a move that had previously seen the Envy name retired in favor of OpTic’s branding.
Envy’s resurgence begins with an Apex Legends roster featuring Dropped, Knoqd, and YanYa, formerly known as Loan Sharks. This move taps into Hastr0’s ties with Dropped and Knoqd, who previously competed under the OpTic banner in Apex Legends.
Founded in 2007, Envy, known then as Team EnVyUs, was a pioneer in Call of Duty esports. Hastr0, a former player, transitioned into ownership, building one of the most recognizable brands in the industry. Under Envy’s banner, Dallas Empire won the inaugural Call of Duty League Championship in 2020.
Team Envy’s VALORANT roster cemented its place among the world’s best, highlighted by a runner-up finish at VCT Stage 3: Masters Berlin 2021, where they bested Sentinels and 100 Thieves before falling to Gambit Esports in the Grand Final. Featuring standout players like yay, Victor, crashies, FNS, and Marved, the roster transitioned to OpTic Gaming after the 2021 merger and achieved further success, winning VCT 2022: Stage 1 Masters Reykjavík and finishing second at VALORANT Champions 2022, building on the foundation laid under Envy’s banner.
In Overwatch, Envy’s legacy includes a legendary roster that won OGN’s Overwatch APEX Season 1 in 2016. The team later became the Dallas Fuel, a founding member of the Overwatch League, which achieved its crowning moment by winning the 2022 OWL Championship.
In 2021, Envy merged with OpTic Gaming, with the latter’s branding taking precedence across all competitive ventures. Envy’s iconic blue logo and identity were phased out as the organization adopted OpTic’s colors. Today’s announcement signifies the revival of a brand that played a formative role in shaping modern esports.
While the immediate focus is on Apex Legends, Envy’s legacy spans multiple games, including Counter-Strike, Halo, League of Legends, Rocket League, and VALORANT. Hastr0’s announcement leaves room for speculation about which titles Envy might return to in the future.
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