FaZe Clan
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| Short name | FaZe, FC |
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| Games | |
| Founded | May 30, 2010 |
| Location |
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| Colors | |
| Owners |
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| CEO | Lee Trink |
| Partners |
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| Website | fazeclan |
| FaZe Clan | ||||||||||
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| YouTube information | ||||||||||
| Channel | ||||||||||
| Years active | 2010–present | |||||||||
| Genre | gaming | |||||||||
| Subscribers | 8.61 million[1] | |||||||||
| Total views | 1.08 billion[1] | |||||||||
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Updated: March 27, 2021 | ||||||||||
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.[2] 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.[3] The trio garnered a reputation for innovating trickshotting in the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.[4] 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.[5] 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.[2] In 2012, the channel had one million subscribers, and the clan began to branch out into esports competitions.[6][2] 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.[6] 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.[6] 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.[7]
In 2015, former social media platform Hubrick, run by Norwegian entrepreneur Sebastian Guerts, decided to invest in FaZe Clan.[6] Hubrick recruited former record executive Lee Trink to serve as CEO.[6] In January 2016, FaZe Clan acquired European esports team G2 Esports's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive international lineup,[8] who competed as FaZe Clan in the 2016 MLG Major Championship: Columbus,[9] The team won second place in ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018, losing to US-based Cloud9.[10] In 2017, Bengston moved to Los Angeles, starting a new shared home with YouTubers called the Clout House.[7] FaZe Clan were the runners up in ESL Pro League Season 6 in 2017,[11] 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.[12]
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.[13][2] 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.[14][15][16][17][18] In December 2019, FaZe closed its series A led by entrepreneur Jimmy Iovine and mobile e-commerce platform NTWRK.[19][20] In January 2020, FaZe Clan obtained a $22.7 million investment loan from Canaccord Genuity, a Canadian financial company.[21][22]
On June 18, 2020, FaZe Clan announced its co-ownership of CTRL, a food supplement company.[23]
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.[24] The plan was accelerated due to the lack of live content being produced by traditional networks during the pandemic.[25][26] Their first film, Crimson, was released on October 29, 2020, and stars Brian "Rug" Awadis in a leading role.[27]
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.[28] On April 3, 2014, FaZe Clan announced the rebranding of FaZe eSniping to FaZe France.[29] RanbOw left the team after one and a half years, with Anthony "Toto" replacing him.[30][31] 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.[32]
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.[33] "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.[34] AEV and FaZe Clan partnered together for the team, and in October 2019, they announced that the team would be named the Atlanta FaZe.[35]
Current roster
Atlanta FaZe roster
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Latest roster transaction: November 6, 2020. | ||||||||||||||||||
Injury/IllnessCounter-Strike: Global Offensive
Current roster
| FaZe Clan CS:GO roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: February 15, 2021. | |||||||||||||||||||||
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
Current rosters
PC
| FaZe Clan PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds roster | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: December 16, 2020. | ||||||||||||||||||
Mobile
| FaZe Clan PUBG Mobile roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: March 1, 2021. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Rainbow Six Siege
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Rainbow Six Siege roster | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: March 4, 2021. | ||||||||||||||||||
FIFA
Current rosters
FIFA
| FaZe Clan FIFA roster | ||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | |||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: December 16, 2020. | |||||||||
FIFA Online
| FaZe Clan FIFA Online roster | |||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: February 5, 2020. | ||||||||||||
Fortnite Battle Royale
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Fortnite roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: March 11, 2021. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Valorant
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Valorant roster | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: August 5, 2020. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rocket League
Current roster
| FaZe Clan Rocket League roster | |||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||
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Latest roster transaction: March 19, 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.[36] As a part of the collaboration, the company released FaZe-themed flavors, such as "FaZe Clan's Battle Juice" in 2019.[37] On May 2, 2019, Atlanta Esports Ventures announced the purchase of a franchise spot in Call of Duty league in partnership with FaZe Clan.[38] The resulting team, Atlanta FaZe, was announced on October 26, 2019.[39]
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.[40] On February 12, 2020, FaZe Clan collaborated with the Ronald McDonald House Charity in Los Angeles to create a gaming lounge in the building. It was announced on the 27th.[41] 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.[42] The event raised over $124,000.[20]
References
- ^ a b "FaZe Clan's YouTube Stats (Summary Profile) - Social Blade Stats". Social Blade. Retrieved March 27, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ 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. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ @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. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "FaZe ILLCAMS". YouTube. June 2, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ 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. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ 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. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ 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. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ Gonzales, Dennis (March 30, 2016). "3 Storylines to watch at MLG Major Championship: Columbus". The Score Esports. Retrieved March 28, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ Tullis, Matt (February 17, 2018). "The Big Wins Seen in ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018". Medium. Retrieved March 28, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ Bishop, Sam (December 12, 2017). "SK Gaming win the ESL Pro League Season 6 finals". Game Reactor. Retrieved March 28, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "FaZe Clan win $500,000 after ELEAGUE CS:GO victory". MCV UK. October 16, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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 🥣" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Hitt, Kevin (April 28, 2020). "FaZe Clan and Sugar23 Partner to Form FaZe Studios". The Esports Observer. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Amore, Samson (April 28, 2020). "FaZe Clan, Michael Sugar Launch FaZe Studios to Produce Films, TV". The Wrap. Retrieved March 28, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "On the heels of its NTWRK investment, FaZe Clan looks at global expansion despite pandemic". Public News Update. April 9, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (October 30, 2020). "YouTube Superstar FaZe Rug on His New Horror Film 'Crimson'". Variety. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ @AnilBrancaleoni (September 19, 2013). "Tout mes mates sont avec moi !" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ @FaZeClan (April 3, 2014). "We are happy to announce we have officially re-branded our French division headed by WaRTeK to FaZe France!" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ @IRanbOw (February 23, 2015). "Je quitte @FaZe_France j'ai plus grand chose a faire dedans, j'ai plus les moyens de stream ni l'envie" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ @Sy_MrToto (January 18, 2015). "Je vous annonce officiellement que je fait partie de la Team FaZe France !" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Reynier, Carl (May 26, 2015). "Au revoir FaZe, nous débutons une nouvelle aventure !". TwitLonger (in French). Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ Pei, Annie (May 2, 2019). "Activision Blizzard announces first 5 teams for Call of Duty esports league". CNBC. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Shenke, Jarred (October 22, 2019). "Esports Team Owned By Cox Enterprises Buys Atlanta Property". Bisnow Atlanta. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Duran, Heidi B. (October 28, 2019). "FaZe Clan, Atlanta Esports Ventures Reveal Call of Duty League Team, Atlanta FaZe". The Esports Observer. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Nicholson, Jonno (March 10, 2020). "FaZe Clan extends and expands partnership with G FUEL". Esports Insider. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Gamma Labs is bringing back Pineapple as Battle Juice G Fuel". Stack3d. January 3, 2019.
- ^ Bhat, Keshav (May 2, 2019). "Five cities have purchased a spot in the upcoming franchised Call of Duty league". Charlie INTEL. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ Bloom, David (October 26, 2019). "Call of Duty League Adds FaZe Clan To Atlanta Franchise Partnership". Forbes. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
- ^ @FaZeClan (April 11, 2018). "SIX limited FaZe Clan & Legia Warszawa Polo Shirts from IEM Katowice's Semi-Final are now available!" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ @FaZeClan (February 28, 2020). "Introducing FaZe Clan's Gaming Lounge project at the Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Moyer, Phillip (March 21, 2020). "FaZe Runs Call Of Duty: Warzone Tournament To Fund Coronavirus Charity". TheGamer. Retrieved May 24, 2020.