Blizzard Entertainment
Roster-mania has subsided, and new teams have been forged from the process. The top European teams have traded talent, with both Fnatic and Team Dignitas claiming they got the better end of the power-swap deal with Jonathan “Wubby” Gunnarsson switching places with Thomas “Ménè” Cailleux.
One of these two teams will succeed and the perception will be that it came at the expense of the other. Similar speculation and hindsight will play out across HGC this season and we’ll all be able to draw our own conclusions soon enough. For now, let the hot takes begin—we have the full rosters for 2018.
A new rule has come into effect that allows teams to make up to three roster changes during the designated player release and acquisition windows. While the scene has shaken up quite a bit from the top down (which is expected at the beginning of a new season), only two teams disbanded: Mighty from Korea and Lag Force from North America.
Mighty has been replaced by Team Feliz, while Lag Force has been replaced by LFM eSports. We welcome these two teams and look forward to seeing what they can bring to the table in Phase 1 of 2018.
Like last year, HGC China will have an independent league structure tailored for the unique needs of the region. We will have more information to share about the format and structure for the Chinese region in January. Be sure to check back in as we get a first look at some of these top teams—with their new rosters—at the Gold Club World Championship in Beijing.