FaZe’s Broky Still Benched, Not Released Despite Farewell Clip

FaZe Clan created a confusing situation this week by releasing a goodbye video for Helvijs “broky” Saukants while keeping him under contract on the bench. The organization told Dust2.us directly that the Latvian AWPer has not been cut or transferred — he remains on the payroll, just not in the active lineup. The video, which showed career highlights and a sentimental ending, gave fans the impression that his seven-year run was over. Instead, broky sits in limbo, benched since June 25 and replaced by the young Danish AWPer Jason “JBOEN” Boe Nielsen.

The mixed messaging is unusual even for a team in transition. FaZe is rebuilding after Finn “karrigan” Andersen left the IGL role last month, and the roster has missed the IEM Cologne 2026 Major — a tournament they once dominated. Broky’s benching was part of that reshuffle, but the farewell video suggested a permanent goodbye. The follow-up clarification from FaZe made it clear that broky is still an asset on the books, not a free agent. Whether that means a potential trade or simply a paid timeout is unclear.

Broky’s Legacy: From Major Winner to Benchwarmer

Before the decline, broky was a pillar of FaZe’s success. He joined the team in early 2019 as a relatively unknown AWPer from Team Kinguin, quickly growing into a reliable star. Under karrigan’s leadership, he helped the squad win ten S-tier LAN trophies, including the PGL Major Antwerp 2022, IEM Katowice 2022, and multiple ESL Pro League titles. His individual consistency earned him four consecutive HLTV Top 20 placements from 2021 to 2024, peaking at 11th in 2022. But the past two years have been brutal. His rating dropped to 1.04 over 173 maps in 2025, then fell further to 0.98 across 84 maps in 2026 — a career low. The missing piece was the Major qualification: FaZe failed to make it to Cologne, and the team’s management decided a change was needed. Broky was the first to go, but the public farewell video only added confusion.

The Summer Shuffle Leaves Few Options

The timing of the video and the contract situation is awkward. Most top teams have already finalized their rosters for the rest of the season. The next major transfer window is expected after the PGL Singapore Major in December 2026. Broky’s stock is at its lowest since his rookie days, and a team willing to take a chance on a form-slumping AWPer is hard to find. A mental reset on the bench could help him recover, but the lack of competitive play risks his sharpness fading further. FaZe seems to be holding him as a backup or trade piece, but the public goodbye video suggests they already see him as part of the past.

• Broky’s rating dropped from 1.07 in 2023 to 0.98 in 2026, a steep decline.
• He won ten S-tier LANs with FaZe, including the Antwerp Major.
• FaZe missed the IEM Cologne Major, accelerating the roster changes.
• The summer transfer window is mostly closed, limiting broky’s options.

What the Broky Situation Means for FaZe’s Rebuild

FaZe’s new lineup with JBOEN has shown potential but lacks consistency. The team has not yet qualified for any upcoming S-tier events, and the absence of karrigan’s leadership is still noticeable. Keeping broky under contract could be a safety net — if JBOEN struggles or if an offer comes in after the Singapore Major, FaZe could move him. But the farewell video complicates matters: it signals to the scene that broky is available, while the contract says he’s not. This could hurt his trade value, as teams may assume FaZe is eager to offload him. The best outcome for broky is a fresh start on a team like Complexity or MOUZ, where he could rebuild his confidence without the pressure of FaZe’s expectations.

For now, broky waits. The bench is not new to him — he was sat down once before in 2023 for a short stint and returned. But this time the organization has publicly said goodbye while legally keeping him. The next roster shuffle, likely after the Singapore Major, will determine whether broky gets a second chance somewhere else or fades from the top tier entirely.