Fortnite World Cup Champion Bugha is set to enter free agency after Sentinels sudden decision to leave competitive Fortnite.
Sentinels are officially out of Fortnite following an announcement from CEO Rob Moore. In a tweet, Moore cited Fortnite’s lack of sponsorship opportunities and in-game content as the primary reasons for this decision. Perhaps the most significant news is that the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Champion — Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf — is set to enter free agency.
The organization’s exit from Fortnite marks a notable moment, as another established brand has chosen to leave Fortnite entirely, joining Team Vitality and 100 Thieves of late. Furthermore, for the first time since 2019, Bugha is a free agent and stands to cash a massive payday for anyone willing to pay the price.
Sentinels Fortnite is no more
Rob Moore explained Sentinels’ reasoning for leaving Fortnite:
“As our organization maps out the future, our strategy is to focus on games that provide the opportunity to activate for our sponsors or offer team branded in-game content. Fortnite has not offered either of those. I am announcing today we will no longer be competing in Fortnite.”
Moore is highlighting an issue plaguing Fortnite for some time—the lack of esports collaboration. Rival esports titles such as Rainbow Six: Siege and Call of Duty grant organizations in-game items and bundles. These collaboration opportunities provide more legitimacy and profit to the brand. However, Fortnite does not offer the same environment.
Moore continued, stating Sentinels would not re-sign current Fortnite roster members Bugha, Zyfa, and Aspect:
“We will therefore not be resigning Bugha, Aspect or Zyfa. We thank our players, especially Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, who brought home the Sentinels first major championship with his win in the 2019 World Cup.”
The era of SEN Bugha ends tomorrow, at which point the Fortnite superstar will enter free agency. Sentinels published a heartfelt video in honor of the 2019 Fortnite World Cup Champion.
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What’s next for Bugha?
The current state of competitive Fortnite leaves a significant question mark over Bugha’s future. It’s unclear what Bugha’s contract with Sentinels entailed. As a result, there’s no way to tell the asking price for the face of competitive Fortnite.
If no viable deals come to the table, Bugha could continue building his brand, stream, and keep winning Fortnite tournaments without an organization behind him. The 19-year-old has all the leverage, fresh from another successful year. After three years with Sentinels, we will have to see what comes next for the multiple-time Fortnite Champion.
Stay tuned to esports.gg for more Fortnite news and updates!
