What Really Happened to Xtreme Gaming?
According to a community source who claims to be connected to team managers and players within the Chinese scene, Xtreme Gaming's struggles were not primarily caused by gameplay issues, but by deteriorating relationships inside the organization.
“The reason for XG's sharp slump in form during the second half of the year is none other than the fact that their two best players, Ame and XXS, both were really unhappy and pessimistic about the team and then started slacking off. And the team owner is mostly to blame for this situation.”
The problems began after XG's runner-up finish at The International 2025. Following that result, the organization's owner reportedly became convinced that the roster only needed bigger names to finally win a TI.
The Xm Situation
According to the source, midlaner Xm — who had a close relationship with Ame — was viewed negatively by management despite the team's success.
“The owner actually always looked down on XM, considering XM as ‘bad.’ Last year's TI runner-up finish boosted the owner's confidence to an all-time high.”
XG then removed XM and brought in NothingToSay (NTS), and veteran support fy replaced XinQ. Even if NTS has long been considered one of the strongest mid players in the world, the insider claims the moves disrupted the chemistry that had helped XG reach the TI Grand Final.
The Fy- Factor
Perhaps the most controversial part of the story revolves around fy. XXS struggled throughout the season due to the difference between playing with XinQ and playing with a veteran support returning from an extended absence from top-level competition.
“Any offlane player would probably break down if their partner was suddenly downgraded from XinQ to oldie Fy.”
Xxs repeatedly expressed frustration throughout the season. However, rather than addressing those concerns, the owner doubled down on defending the roster decisions.
“Once his roster decisions were questioned, he openly and explicitly backed Fy and even found excuses to criticize XXS for behaving like some superstar.”
The source further claims that XXS historically loses motivation when unhappy and that the situation gradually eroded the team's atmosphere.
The Breaking Point ESL One Birmingham
ESL One Birmingham 2026 was the moment everything truly fell apart.
XG finished third at the event after an impressive lower-bracket run, but tensions exploded following their elimination.
In the post a specific draft is referenced involving Keeper of the Light for NTS, which was heavily criticized by fans after the loss.
“Xiao8 went against the preparations and stubbornly drafted Keeper of the Light for NTS, leading to their loss.”
What happened next is perhaps the most explosive claim in the entire story. The team owner hired Maps as an assistant coach without consulting head coach Xiao8, effectively reducing Xiao8's control over the draft.
“The owner, without discussing with Xiao8, suddenly hired Maps as assistant coach to seize drafting control.”
Xiao8 viewed the move as disrespectful and felt he was gradually being pushed out.
Xtreme Gaming Morale Collapses
The team's internal environment never recovered. Ame and XXS became completely disengaged after Xiao8's departure and no longer believed the team could succeed.
“The entire team's morale just completely collapsed.” “Ame and XXS were already completely checked out at that point.” “They went to TI without any chemistry and a dreadful atmosphere, barely trying to win at all.”
By the time The International 2026 arrived, players were simply waiting for the season to end.
“All of them only wanted to go home early and put an end to this.”
What We Actually Know
XG did replace XM and XinQ with NothingToSay and Fy. The team also underwent coaching changes before TI 2026, with LaNm taking over and Maps becoming involved in the coaching structure. The team’s results also declined sharply throughout the second half of the season before ending in a disappointing TI run.
However, there is currently no public evidence confirming the more serious accusations regarding owner interference, internal conflicts, player motivation, or the exact circumstances surrounding Xiao8’s departure. Xiao8 himself publicly stated after leaving that the decision was his own and denied being forced out. That does not necessarily disprove every claim in the insider account, but it does mean the story should be treated as an allegation rather than established fact.
We don't know if the insider account is entirely accurate or not, one thing is undeniable: Xtreme Gaming's 2026 season ended far below expectations, and questions about what happened behind the scenes are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
Full Transcript from Reddit
"I'm not an insider, but I have quite a few friends in the scene, including team owners and managers. The news I got: The reason for XG's sharp slump in form during the second half of the year is none other than the fact that their two best two players, Ame and XXS, both were really unhappy and pessimistic about the team and then started to slacking off. And the team owner is mostly to blame for this situation.
It all started because the owner actually always looked down on Xm who has really good relationship with Ame, considering XM as "bad." Last year's TI runner-up finish boosted the owner's confidence to an all-time high, leading him to believe that this is the best chance for them to win TI. Therefore, at the beginning of the season, he blindly listened to some half-baked fan suggestions, kicked XM, and replaced him with NTS (arguably the better player before this year). At the same time, because XinQ had poor mentality, bad work ethic, and wanted unreasonably long break, they just brought in Fy.
How should I put it? The owner is someone who heavily superstitious about player "star power," believing that only so-called star players can achieve results. Ame was somewhat unhappy because his two buddies got kicked, but because he still high ambition to win TI, he played hard during the first half of the season. As a result, XG's performance in the first half was more than decent, and they successfully secured a direct invite to TI as what they were hoping for. However, Fy had been away from the professional scene for a while, and his performance was clearly not even close to the other position 4s. Xxs, as his offlane partner, felt extremely uncomfortable and unhappy (just think about it, any offlane player would probably break down if their partner was suddenly downgraded from XinQ to oldie Fy...). He had massive internal grievances, and likely expressed his displeasure through numerous explicit and implicit hints throughout the season. But the owner, acting as the boss, handled this issue poorly. Because he cares immensely about saving his own face, once his roster decisions were questioned, he openly and explicitly backed Fy, and even found excuses to criticize Xxs for "behaving like some superstar." Xxs is the type of person who just starts coasting and throwing the moment he gets unhappy (refer to his stint back when he played for IG and Team Aster).
The team atmosphere deteriorated rapidly after that, which was very obviously reflected in their subsequent results. And the final turning point was ESL Birmingtham (finished 3rd, really hot run from lower bracket). In their elimination match, Xiao8 went against the preps and stubbornly drafted Keeper of the Light for NTS, leading to their loss (was heavily criticized by everyone as the losing pick). Then, the owner without discussing with Xiao8, suddenly hired Maps as assisstant coach to seize drafting control, which made Xiao8 felt disrespected and felt like he was being pushed out. After that, the entire team's morale just completely collapsed, and Ame and Xxs was already completely checked out at that point after both can't convince Xiao8 to stay. Therefore, everyone can clearly see that starting from the draft at this TI, XG just went there without any chemistry and dreadful atmopshere, barely trying to win at all, all of them only wanted to go home early, and to put an end to this torment."
