FaZe Clan
 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | FaZe | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | May 30, 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Location |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Colors | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Owners |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| President | Tom Fox | |||||||||||||||||||
| CEO | Lee Trink | |||||||||||||||||||
| Partners |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Website | fazeclan | |||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
FaZe Clan (formerly FaZe Sniping) is a professional esports and entertainment organization headquartered in Los Angeles, United States. Founded on May 30, 2010, the organization has players from around the world, across multiple games, including Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, FIFA, Valorant, Fortnite Battle Royale and Rocket League. In 2020, the organization expanded into the Asian market, acquiring a Thai PUBG Mobile and FIFA Online roster.
History
FaZe Sniping made its debut on YouTube on May 30, 2010.[4] Originally, the group were a Call of Duty clan founded by three players, Eric "CLipZ" Rivera, Jeff "House Cat" Emann (now known as "Timid") and Ben "Resistance" Christensen.[5] The trio garnered a reputation for innovating trickshotting in the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.[6] Their YouTube content took off when Ted "Fakie" joined the clan. It was then when FaZe unveiled the most popular series on their channel, ILLCAMS.[7] FaZe Clan's focus on trickshotting and a personality/social-media approach led to FaZe Clan becoming one of the first popular YouTube video game channels, compared to other Call of Duty channels which were focused on winning tournaments.[4] In 2012, the channel had one million subscribers, and the clan began to branch out into esports competitions.[8][4] Teams under the FaZe name began competing in competitions such as the Call of Duty Championship and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championships, who were separate from the clan's YouTube content creators, splitting members of FaZe Clan into two mostly autonomous camps.[8] Originally, FaZe Clan did not have a corporate structure, however the original CEO was Brazilian Thomas "Temperrr" Oliveira, who had been a member of FaZe since he was 16 years old.[8] Oliveira and COO Richard “Banks” Bengston created the first FaZe shared home in 2014 in Plainview, New York, where they could incorporate lifestyle content with their gaming content.[9]
In 2015, former social media platform Hubrick, run by Norwegian entrepreneur Sebastian Guerts, decided to invest in FaZe Clan.[8] Hubrick recruited former record executive Lee Trink to serve as CEO.[8] In January 2016, FaZe Clan acquired European esports team G2 Esports's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive international lineup,[10] who competed as FaZe Clan in the 2016 MLG Major Championship: Columbus,[11] The team won second place in ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018, losing to US-based Cloud9.[12] In 2017, Bengston moved to Los Angeles, starting a new shared home with YouTubers called the Clout House.[9] FaZe Clan were the runners up in ESL Pro League Season 6 in 2017,[13] and second runners up of ESL Pro League Season 7 and ESL One Cologne 2018. FaZe Clan were the champions of ELeague CS:GO Premier in 2017, winning $500,000 of prize money.[14]
In 2018, Greg Selkoe, founder of streetware web retailer Karmaloop, became the president of FaZe Clan, with CEO Lee Trink stepping into the CEO role full-time.[15][4] In late 2018, FaZe Clan opened its series A funding round. Throughout 2019, musicians Ray J, DJ Paul, Offset, Swae Lee, Yo Gotti, Pitbull, and Disco Fries, basketball players Meyers Leonard, Josh Hart, Ben Simmons, Jamal Murray, footballer Gregory van der Wiel, skateboarder Nyjah Huston, radio host Big Boy, music executives Sylvia Rhone, Troy Carter and Guy Oseary and actor Chris O'Donnell invested in FaZe Clan.[16][17][18][19][20] In December 2019, FaZe closed its series A led by entrepreneur Jimmy Iovine and mobile e-commerce platform NTWRK.[21][22] In January 2020, FaZe Clan obtained a $22.7 million investment loan from Canaccord Genuity, a Canadian financial company.[23][24]
On June 18, 2020, FaZe Clan announced its co-ownership of CTRL, a food supplement company.[25]
In December 2020, the FaZe Clan was worth $305 million. The same month the revenue of FaZe Clan was estimated $40 million.[26]
On June 10, 2021, FaZe Clan was the first esports team that was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.[27]
In September 2021, FaZe Clan and DC Comics collaborated on a limited edition comic book, written by Josh Trujillo and illustrated by Scot Eaton, featuring Batman and several members of the FaZe Clan.[28]
Red Reserve
On December 5, 2014, FaZe Clan announced the founding of Red Reserve as a subdivision to the organization. They would go on to upload content similar to FaZe's until June 2016, where they cut ties with FaZe to explore other opportunities under their own banner.[citation needed]
FaZe Studios
In April 2020, it was reported that FaZe Clan and Michael Sugar, film and television producer and founder of Sugar23, partnered to form FaZe Studios. The studio would focus on creating feature films and scripted television series.[29] The plan was accelerated due to the lack of live content being produced by traditional networks during the pandemic.[30][31] Their first film, , was released on October 29, 2020, and stars Brian "Rug" Awadis in a leading role.[32]
Current divisions
Call of Duty
FaZe France
On September 19, 2013, FaZe eSniping, their competitive Call of Duty sniping division, was announced with the joining of Raphael "Zydar" Zydar, Elliot "Hyspe" and Kevin "RanbOw", led by Anil "WaRTeK" Brancaleoni.[33] On April 3, 2014, FaZe Clan announced the rebranding of FaZe eSniping to FaZe France.[34] RanbOw left the team after one and a half years, with Anthony "Toto" replacing him.[35][36] On May 26, 2015, the players and staff of FaZe France stated they weren't satisfied with FaZe's plans and left to create their own organization.[37]
Atlanta FaZe
On May 2, 2019, Activision Blizzard announced that Atlanta Esports Ventures had purchased one of the first five franchise slots for the Call of Duty League. According to ESPN, the publisher was looking to sell slots for approximately $25 million per team.[38] "We have the opportunity to—once again—play a pivotal role in Atlanta's diverse esports community by bringing the future of Call of Duty esports to the city," said Hamilton in a release at the time.[39] AEV and FaZe Clan partnered together for the team, and in October 2019, they announced that the team would be named the Atlanta FaZe.[40]
Current roster
Atlanta FaZe roster
| |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
Injury / IllnessCounter-Strike: Global Offensive
Current roster
| FaZe Clan CS:GO roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: February 15, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
Current rosters
PC
| FaZe Clan PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds roster | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: December 16, 2020. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mobile
| FaZe Clan PUBG Mobile roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: March 1, 2021. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Rainbow Six Siege
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Rainbow Six Siege roster | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: March 4, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||
FIFA
Current rosters
FIFA
| FaZe Clan FIFA roster | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: December 16, 2020. | |||||||||
FIFA Online
| FaZe Clan FIFA Online roster | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: February 5, 2020. | ||||||||||||
Fortnite Battle Royale
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Fortnite roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: June 30, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Valorant
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Valorant roster | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: June 30, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rocket League
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Rocket League roster | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||
|
Latest roster transaction: September 3, 2021. | ||||||||||||
Partnerships and collaborations
FaZe Clan has been partnered with caffeinated drink mix brand Gamma Labs' G Fuel since 2012, which is currently one of the longest promotional collaborations in esports.[41] As a part of the collaboration, the company released FaZe-themed flavors, such as "FaZe Clan's Battle Juice" in 2019.[42] On May 2, 2019, Atlanta Esports Ventures announced the purchase of a franchise spot in Call of Duty league in partnership with FaZe Clan.[43] The resulting team, Atlanta FaZe, was announced on October 26, 2019.[44]
On November 22, 2018, FaZe Clan collaborated with sportswear manufacturer Champion to release exclusive clothing.[45] In 2019, Champion released exclusive clothing with FaZe on four occasions.[46][47][48][49] Champion is manufacturing most of the clothing released by FaZe. On March 14, 2019, FaZe Clan collaborated with clothing brand Siberia Hills for a limited-time hoodie release.[50]
On March 21, 2019, FaZe Clan announced its partnership with automobile manufacturer Nissan.[51] Nissan started producing two original series on FaZe's YouTube channel.
On September 26, 2019, football club Manchester City announced its partnership with FaZe Clan for content creation and clothing.[52]
On July 20, 2019, FaZe Clan opened a booth at ComplexCon 2019, where they sold exclusive clothing in collaboration with Champion, label Lyrical Lemonade and clothing brand 24karats.[47] They collaborated with 24karats again on August 16, 2019, to release clothing accessories,[53] and with Lyrical Lemonade on November 27 of the same year.[54] On September 17, 2019, FaZe Clan collaborated with headwear company New Era.[55] Through November 3 to 22, 2019, FaZe Clan collaborated with designer Warren Lotas, sportswear brand Kappa and clothing brand CLOT respectively to release exclusive clothing.[56] [57]
In August 2021, FaZe Clan announced a sponsorship with McDonald's The companies will partner on a series of content and other projects featuring major FaZe Clan stars.[58]
Philanthropy
On April 11, 2018, FaZe Clan and Legia Warsaw listed one-of-a-kind polo shirts made for and signed by their CS:GO players to a charity auction website. The proceeds would go to purchasing equipment for the Institute of Mother and Child.[59] On March 15, 2020, FaZe Clan unveiled Fight 2 Fund, its four-week charity Call of Duty: Warzone event, in which social media influencers, YouTubers, streamers, celebrities, sportspeople and musicians participate. Viewers could donate money, which would be donated to charities helping people impacted by the coronavirus disease 2019.[60] The event raised over $124,000.[22]
References
- ^ Jump up to: a b "FaZe Clan's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "About FaZeClan". YouTube.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Fazeclan Monthly YouTube Statistics - Socialblade.com". March 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Lorenz, Taylor (November 15, 2019). "Can FaZe Clan Build a Billion-Dollar Business?". The New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ @FaZeClan (August 7, 2014). "Correct answer was Resistance, Housecat, and Clipz! Thanks for being a fan :) @ohPoison_" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Mazique, Brian (July 23, 2018). "HOW FAZE CLAN IS REDEFINING WHAT CELEBRITY—AND A TEAM—CAN BE". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "FaZe ILLCAMS". YouTube. June 2, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Gutelle, Sam (April 26, 2018). "From Trickshots to Trophies: FaZe Clan Is The Massive Network Redefining Gaming On YouTube, Twitch, And Beyond". Tube Filter. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Webb, Kevin (April 21, 2020). "The story behind gaming giant FaZe Clan's new mansion in LA, which costs $80,000 per month and was once rented by Justin Bieber". Business Insider. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ Raven, Josh (January 25, 2016). "With $700,000 price tag, FaZe becomes the most expensive CS:GO team in history". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Gonzales, Dennis (March 30, 2016). "3 Storylines to watch at MLG Major Championship: Columbus". The Score Esports. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Tullis, Matt (February 17, 2018). "The Big Wins Seen in ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018". Medium. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Bishop, Sam (December 12, 2017). "SK Gaming win the ESL Pro League Season 6 finals". Game Reactor. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "FaZe Clan win $500,000 after ELEAGUE CS:GO victory". MCV UK. October 16, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ "Faze Clan, 100 Thieves, And How Hip-Hop And Video Games Collide". Vibe. April 24, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ^ Fitch, Adam (August 15, 2019). "FaZe Clan receives investment from Offset". Esports Insider. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ "Rapper and Entrepreneur Ray J Invests in Tech and Esports". Cheddar. February 20, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ Michael, Cale (April 13, 2019). "NBA player Meyers Leonard invests in FaZe Clan, plans to work on content creation". Dot Esports. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "LA Laker Josh Hart Tells Why He Invested in FaZe Clan". Cheddar. June 11, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ "FaZe Clan Reveals $40 Million Series A Details". PR Newswire. April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
- ^ Settimi, Christina (April 9, 2020). "FaZe Clan Closes Funding Round With Jimmy Iovine And Celebrity-Backed E-Commerce Company NTWRK". Forbes. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Seck, Tobias (April 18, 2020). "FaZe Clan CEO Lee Trink Shares Insights on the Team's $40M Series A Investment". The Esports Observer. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "FaZe Clan". Canaccord Genuity. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Hitt, Kevin (February 3, 2020). "FaZe Clan Obtains $22.7M Investment Loan From Canadian Lending Firm". The Esports Observer. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ @FaZeClan (June 18, 2020). "Today we're incredibly proud to announce FaZe Clan are now co-owners of @DrinkCTRL - the healthy Meal Replacement that tastes like the bottom of a Cereal bowl