TL;DR
- Virtus Pro abandoned traditional black/orange for controversial green/purple design
- Initial fan reactions were overwhelmingly negative across social media platforms
- Color change driven by new sponsorship deal with Russian telecom MegaFon
- Complete logo redesign scheduled for November 2018 anniversary reveal
- Organization balancing fan expectations with commercial partnership requirements
Virtus Pro’s competitive appearance underwent a radical transformation heading into major tournaments like The International 2018 and FACEIT Major: London, marking one of the most significant visual rebrands in recent esports history. Unlike typical roster changes that dominate esports news, this shift represented a fundamental alteration of the team’s visual identity that had been established over years of competition.
The prominent Russian esports organization completely overhauled their competitive attire, abandoning the iconic black and orange color palette that fans had grown to recognize. In its place emerged a striking combination of green and purple hues that immediately captured attention across the gaming community. This dramatic departure from tradition signaled a new era for the organization’s branding strategy.
Initial community feedback flooded social media platforms with overwhelmingly critical responses, creating one of the most divisive uniform reveals in recent memory. Longtime supporters expressed strong attachment to the previous color scheme, with many describing the new green and purple combination as visually jarring and disconnected from the team’s established identity. The emotional connection fans had developed with the traditional colors became immediately apparent through the intensity of their reactions.
Despite the widespread fan disapproval, industry insiders and esports marketing professionals offered contrasting perspectives. Many praised Virtus Pro’s courage in adopting a distinctive visual identity rather than following the conventional color patterns common across competitive gaming organizations. This professional acknowledgment highlighted the strategic value of standing out in an increasingly crowded esports landscape.
Understanding fan attachment to team aesthetics requires recognizing that colors become deeply embedded in team identity. When considering visual customization in gaming, our Class Guide explores how visual identity impacts player connection in competitive environments.
While debates about the aesthetic merits of the new uniforms continued to dominate community discussions, the underlying business rationale became clearer through official statements. The comprehensive visual overhaul resulted from a strategic partnership agreement with MegaFon, one of Russia’s leading telecommunications providers. This sponsorship alignment represented a significant commercial relationship that extended beyond simple logo placement.
The partnership structure revealed that Virtus Pro’s competitive rosters would exclusively represent MegaFon’s brand colors throughout The International 2018 and continuing until year-end. This complete brand integration demonstrated the depth of the sponsorship arrangement and its central role in the organization’s financial strategy.
Roman Dvoryankin, Virtus Pro’s General Manager, provided detailed clarification through the organization’s official communication channels. His statement emphasized the transitional nature of the current design, positioning it as part of a broader brand evolution strategy. For teams navigating sponsorship integrations, our Complete Guide offers valuable insights into balancing commercial and fan interests.
The current uniform design represents merely the initial phase of a comprehensive rebranding initiative scheduled to culminate in November 2018. This timing aligns strategically with Virtus Pro’s 15th anniversary celebrations, where the organization plans to unveil the complete evolution of their competitive image moving into 2019 and beyond.
Dvoryankin’s announcement carefully positioned the MegaFon color scheme as a temporary measure, with more permanent and presumably fan-considered designs scheduled for revelation during the anniversary festivities. This phased approach suggests the organization acknowledges the need to balance commercial partnerships with long-term brand identity preservation.
Despite the initial negative reception of the uniform preview, Virtus Pro management expressed confidence that their forthcoming 2019 designs would better align with fan expectations while maintaining commercial viability. The situation highlights the complex balancing act modern esports organizations face when navigating sponsor relationships and community loyalty. Similar strategic considerations apply when optimizing loadouts, as detailed in our Weapons Unlock guide for competitive advantage.
The Virtus Pro case study offers valuable lessons for other organizations considering visual rebrands. Key considerations include gradual implementation timelines, clear communication of business rationales, and maintaining core identity elements that resonate with established fan bases while pursuing necessary commercial partnerships.
Action Checklist
- Analyze fan sentiment through social media monitoring before major visual changes
- Develop phased implementation plan that balances sponsor requirements with fan expectations
- Create clear communication strategy explaining business rationale behind visual changes
- Schedule major reveals around organizational milestones or anniversary events
- Establish feedback mechanisms to gauge community reaction and make adjustments
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Fans aren’t happy with new Virtus.pro uniforms Virtus Pro's controversial uniform redesign sparks fan debate while revealing strategic sponsorship partnership with MegaFon