Envy eliminated in Red Bull Home Ground New York Play-Ins, but this is only the beginning

Envy’s 2025 season comes to an end following their elimination in the Red Bull Home Ground 2025 - Main Event play-ins, as in-game leader P0PPIN reflects on their season.

Just a few days ago, Envy was in Los Angeles, California, competing in the VCT OFF Season - SEN City Classic 2025, where they finished in second place before embarking on a six-hour flight to New York City to play at Red Bull Home Ground New York.

The following day, Envy was already slated to play two best-of-one series to determine if the team would make it into the weekend or if their season would come short of the playoffs.

Envy came into Red Bull Home Ground New York high off of qualifying for VCT Americas 2026 and a close Grand Finals between themselves and Sentinels.

A busy VALORANT offseason for Envy

So when Envy came to Red Bull Home Ground New York, confidence was high for this team to make it out of the Play-In Stage and make their way to the Playoffs. However, after one day, Envy has found themselves eliminated from the offseason tournament. There are many different things that could have led to this result, ranging from a unique best-of-one format to time constraints.

However, despite everything that has happened ever since Envy’s Ascension, in-game leader POPPIN’s goals are geared towards one primary objective: VCT 2026.

“My goal has been to just keep grinding,” POPPIN said. “I think a lot of people let off the gas and stop playing the game when they win, but that is something I am trying to stay away from.”

POPPIN relayed that the past few months have been the busiest of his life. In just two months, POPPIN has gone from winning VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Ascension Americas in Sao Paolo, Brazil, SEN Invitational Grand Finals in Los Angeles, California and most recently, Red Bull Home Ground New York.

While he revealed that finding time for ranked games has been difficult to manage, these are all opportunities that POPPIN does not want to go to waste.

“Winning Ascension is a big deal, but it’s not going to matter if we don’t win any games in the VCT,” POPPIN shared. “That’s my current focus right now. I want to get to VCT and really prove that we are meant to be there.”

Since winning VCT Americas Ascension, Envy’s performances have been mixed. While they put up an impressive showing at the SEN Invitational, Red Bull Home Ground New York was underwhelming, as the team found itself dropping its first game against BXL ZOO. That would ultimately seal their fate in New York as the team lost out to Eintracht Frankfurt in group tiebreakers, despite their bittersweet 15-13 victory to end their tournament.

What’s next for Envy after Red Bull Homeground New York?

The 2025 season is now officially over for Envy as the team sets its sights on the VCT 2026 season. Despite their elimination from Red Bull Home Ground New York, 2025 has “been a dream” for POPPIN.

“This was our dream, to be pro players going all over the world to play in these tournaments,” POPPIN said. “On RANKERS, we were just sitting at home. Now we are flying places, seeing different ways of life, and experiencing new things.”

For now, Envy will have some time to rest before VCT Americas 2026 Kickoff starts in January of next year. As for the eight remaining teams, they will compete in the Red Bull Home Ground New York bracket stage, taking place from November 14 to November 16.

Be sure to follow THESPIKE.GG for more VALORANT offseason content like this as we head closer to the start of the VCT 2026 season.