Gen.G says goodbye to 4 players from core VALORANT roster

Gen.G Esports has announced the release of four players as their contracts come to an end. Kim "t3xture" Na-ra, Byeon "Munchkin" Sang-beom, Kim "Karon" Won-tae, and Kim "Lakia" Jong-min are now officially free agents and open to explore new opportunities. While the players are entering free agency, Gen.G has stated that discussions are still ongoing regarding potential contract renewals.

Long time teammates

All four players have been with Gen.G in some capacity since the 2023 offseason. During their first year together, the squad impressed the fans by winning two regional titles and lifting the VCT 2024 - Masters Shanghai trophy. They also placed second at VCT 2024 - Masters Madrid, firmly establishing themselves as a powerhouse from the Pacific region.

Team captain and in-game leader Munchkin has already confirmed he won’t be returning to Gen.G. In a farewell post on X, he reflected on the highlights of his career with the team and shared that it's time for a new chapter.

Lakia, a key part of Gen.G’s golden era, was also on stage during the Masters Shanghai victory. However, he stepped away from competition in the 2024 offseason due to a wrist injury. By June 2025, he was cleared to compete again and rejoined the Gen.G roster in August. His stint back on the squad was short, as he’s now also a free agent.

Looking for a change

Gen.G only qualified for one international event in 2025, VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Masters Toronto 2025. After falling short in VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Pacific Stage 2 and losing their shot at VALORANT Champions Tour 2025 - Valorant Champions to DRX, the team’s results were seen as underwhelming. A roster rebuild may be what Gen.G needs to bounce back stronger in the 2026 season.

As the offseason continues, some of these players might make a return to Gen.G, while others move on to new rosters.

Gen.G current roster:

• Ha "Ash" Hyun-cheol
• Jung "Foxy9" Jae-sung

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Featured image credit: David Lee/Riot Games