CSGO star Stewie2K says he will “eventually” switch to Valorant

Team Liquid’s elite entry specialist has confirmed his intention to explore Valorant professionally, though he emphasizes this represents a long-term strategy rather than an immediate career shift.

During a recent broadcast, Jacky “Stewie2K” Yip disclosed his strategic roadmap for eventually transitioning to Riot’s tactical shooter. The accomplished rifler clarified that while the move remains in his career planning, he maintains full commitment to Team Liquid’s Counter-Strike roster for the foreseeable future.

The conversation unfolded during an August 15th stream where Stewie2K and TSM FTX competitor Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik discussed organizing a collaborative Valorant viewing event. When the topic shifted to professional players crossing between games, Stewie2K revealed his calculated approach to eventually joining Valorant’s competitive scene.

“My transition isn’t happening immediately, but it’s definitely part of my career trajectory,” the veteran competitor stated.

Stewie2K’s previous experience with Valorant has been primarily recreational, indicating he hasn’t yet dedicated serious study to the game’s evolving meta. His difficulty recognizing recently introduced agents like Astra and KAY/O demonstrates the knowledge gap that professional transfers must overcome.

The Major championship winner has streamed numerous competitive titles throughout his broadcasting career, yet consistently maintained his primary focus on Counter-Strike. Since his unexpected recruitment by Cloud9 in 2016, Stewie2K has built his reputation exclusively within CSGO’s professional circuit.

“I genuinely didn’t recognize Astra initially, mistakenly identifying her as Phoenix’s relative. I confused Astra with the mechanical character that Joshua ‘steel’ Nissan typically plays,” he admitted during the stream.

For professionals considering similar moves, developing comprehensive agent knowledge represents the initial critical phase. Successful transfers typically spend 50-100 hours in unranked play specifically studying ability interactions and map-specific agent effectiveness.

While Stewie2K’s comments might reflect casual speculation rather than firm commitment, the pattern of CSGO professionals migrating to Valorant has become increasingly established. While early adopters primarily included emerging talents or veterans seeking career revitalization, the movement has since attracted established elite competitors.

Stewie2K would join an expanding roster of former CSGO standouts who’ve successfully transitioned. Virtually all of Valorant’s current top-tier competitors bring extensive CSGO backgrounds, including notable stars such as Matthew “Wardell” Yu and Tyson “TenZ” Ngo. Riot’s tactical shooter deliberately positions itself as CSGO’s primary competitor, challenging Valve’s historical dominance in tactical shooter esports.

Industry analysts note that successful transitions typically follow one of three patterns: immediate full commitment (2-3 month adjustment), phased transition (6+ months while maintaining CSGO play), or complete career reset (abandoning CSGO entirely for Valorant).

The driving factors behind these career moves primarily stem from Riot Games’ demonstrated superiority in cultivating sustainable esports ecosystems compared to Valve’s more hands-off approach. This creates substantially more lucrative and stable opportunities for competitive professionals.

Established CSGO competitors experiencing ongoing success, or those who simply prefer Counter-Strike’s pure tactical gameplay, understandably maintain their current career paths. CSGO’s established tournament circuit continues facilitating significant prize pools and sponsorship revenue.

However, Valorant’s potential implementation of a League of Legends-inspired regional circuit structure could revolutionize professional compensation models. Such systems guarantee consistent practice environments, predictable competition schedules, and, most importantly, reliable salaries. Elite competitors in Riot’s flagship MOBA, League of Legends, regularly earn seven-figure annual salaries exclusively from team contracts, a financial reality CSGO cannot currently replicate.

The financial disparity becomes particularly evident when examining base compensation. While CSGO’s top earners might achieve similar total earnings through tournament winnings and streaming, the stability of guaranteed salaries provides crucial financial security that appeals to professionals considering long-term career planning.

For players contemplating similar transitions, several strategic considerations emerge. First, mechanical skill transfer requires approximately 3-6 months of dedicated adaptation, with aim mechanics showing the fastest translation while movement and utility usage demand complete relearning.

Common pitfalls include underestimating the learning curve for agent abilities, overestimating how quickly game sense translates, and mismanaging the community expectations during the adjustment period.

Advanced optimization involves studying VODs of successful transfers, identifying which CSGO roles translate most effectively to specific Valorant agent types, and developing structured practice routines that address specific knowledge gaps.

The most successful transitions typically occur during official offseason periods, allowing 2-3 months of uninterrupted focus before competitive commitments resume. For comprehensive guidance on tactical shooter mechanics, see our Complete Guide to fundamental FPS principles.

Professional gamers should also consider contract timing, existing organizational support for cross-game development, and personal brand alignment with the new title’s community culture.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » CSGO star Stewie2K says he will “eventually” switch to Valorant Exploring Stewie2K's potential Valorant transition and the strategic shifts reshaping tactical shooter esports