Griffin’s LoL team now free agents after contracts are dissolved

The entire Griffin League of Legends roster has achieved free agent status following unprecedented contract cancellations by parent company Still8. This dramatic development occurred during what should have been a routine offseason period, highlighting the severity of the organizational misconduct.

Still8 took decisive action by voiding all existing agreements with their League team, acknowledging these contracts contained fundamentally unfair terms that violated player rights. The company’s internal review revealed systemic issues with contract structures that enabled power abuse.

This contractual liberation immediately benefited star players including mid-laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon, support specialist Son “Lehends” Si-woo, and top-laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon, who secured their release shortly after Still8’s public statement. Griffin’s social media accounts characterized the separation as mutually agreed upon, though players clearly sought independence from the troubled organization.

“Still8 and Team Griffin recently established contractual agreements with their competitors that created vulnerability to rights violations and enabled inappropriate power dynamics,” the organization formally acknowledged.

The company extended sincere apologies to their dedicated fanbase, recognizing the community’s valid concerns about unethical practices.

“We completely understand the gravity of issues identified in our communications and the problematic ‘unfair contract’ terms that supporters rightfully criticized,” their statement continued.

Griffin accused of mistreating players

The organization initially faced scrutiny earlier this month when jungler Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok reportedly faced coercion to accept an extended contract with a new organization against his preferences.

Former Griffin head coach Kim “cvMax” Dae-ho exposed these manipulative tactics during a live stream, detailing how management threatened Kanavi with fabricated ‘player tampering’ allegations to ensure compliance. This situation attracted attention from Korean political figures, with Congressman Ha Tae-kyung advocating for government intervention to reform what he described as “archaic contractual systems.”

Following thorough examination, Riot Games Korea imposed competitive bans on Griffin director Cho Gyu-Nam and cvMax from game-related activities. The organization additionally received a substantial $85,000 financial penalty.

Riot’s official ruling characterized these actions as “compromising the integrity and fundamental principles of the LCK.” Their comprehensive decision documentation remains publicly accessible.

“We offer our deepest apologies to all supporters, competitors, and esports governing bodies for Still8 and Team Griffin failing to comprehend player perspectives and establish mutually respectful contractual relationships,” Still8 expressed.

The apology included commitments from the organization to invalidate all agreements established through “improper methods.” They indicated plans to draft replacement contracts that would “rectify all inequitable clauses.”

According to Still8’s announcement, this remediation process has already commenced. The contract revisions applied not solely to their League of Legends division but encompassed all competitive teams operating under Griffin and Still8. While management hoped this would facilitate collaborative growth and restore confidence, numerous competitors opted for free agency instead.

“We honor their decisions and will permit them to pursue free agent status,” the company affirmed.

Griffin players accuse former coach of abuse

During an exclusive November 20 discussion with Inven Global, competitors Choi “Sword” Sung-won, Lee “Tarzan” Seung-yong, and Shin “Rather” Hyeong-seop, alongside coach Byun “Chaos” Young-sub, levied accusations against former Griffin coach cvMax involving physical intimidation and verbal harassment.

“From my initial involvement with the team, I experienced both physical confrontations and verbal mistreatment,” Chaos reported.

He recounted incidents involving thrown notepads during strategy sessions, physical strikes to players’ chairs, and situations where cvMax allegedly grabbed competitors by their collars while shaking them violently.

cvMax reportedly threatened Sword with lethal consequences if team failures occurred “due to his performance.”

These allegations intensified existing tensions within Korea’s competitive League of Legends community. Some retired professionals and industry commentators defended cvMax, suggesting that if punishment resulted from these claims, every Korean coach would warrant similar disciplinary action given how prevalent such behaviors appear within the professional gaming environment.

cvMax has contested certain allegations presented against him and raised concerns about procedural fairness in Riot Games Korea’s inquiry. International community participants have joined questioning the impartiality of Riot’s Korean operations, though this remains particularly challenging for Korean professionals to address given Riot Games Korea’s dominant regulatory position over League of Legends within the region.

The Griffin controversy represents a watershed moment for player rights in competitive gaming. This case demonstrates how organizations can exploit contractual ambiguity to maintain control over competitors, particularly younger players lacking legal representation. The involvement of political figures indicates growing recognition of esports as a legitimate industry requiring consumer protection standards.

Professional gamers should carefully review contract duration clauses, termination conditions, and dispute resolution mechanisms before signing. Common mistakes include accepting verbal assurances without written documentation and failing to secure independent legal review of agreement terms.

For organizations seeking to avoid similar crises, implementing transparent contract review processes and establishing independent player advocacy positions can prevent such systemic failures.

The ongoing scrutiny of Riot Games Korea’s investigative processes highlights the need for independent oversight in esports governance. As the industry matures, establishing clear standards for coaching conduct and player treatment becomes increasingly critical for sustainable growth.

Advanced players should negotiate performance-based contract exit clauses and secure representation during all contractual discussions. Time estimates for contract review and negotiation typically range from 2-4 weeks depending on complexity.

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