What's going on at Cloud9?

Cloud9 was an organization that many were excited to join in the CDL before last year's Esports World Cup, having been a proven winner in multiple other esports. However, since that event, the team has experienced a downward spiral. Once home to players like Paco "HyDra" Rusiewiez and Matthew "KiSMET" Tinsley, the organization has now become one of the last teams in the CDL expected to finalize its roster for Black Ops 7.

After the Esports World Cup in 2024, the team placed its future in the hands of Daunte "Sib" Gray, which led to the departure of five world champions. Head Coach Ehsan "DREAL" Javed, Main AR Cesar "Skyz" Bueno, and Entry SMG Kismet. Meanwhile, HyDra and Coach Troy "Sender" Michaels pushed to leave and join LA Thieves.

📸 Photo by @C9COD_

Fast forward to the 2025 offseason, and the situation has not improved greatly. Sources have indicated that Cloud9 New York is likely to have the lowest budget in CDL history when it comes to assembling a roster this offseason.

Just a few weeks ago, the team underwent a complete roster overhaul, parting ways with all of their players from the 2025 season, including head coach Lamar "Accuracy" Abedi. However, they still have assistant coach Arian Chitsaz on the staff.

Many would question why anyone would want to join the CDL under these circumstances, but the business side of things, while not appealing to fans, makes sense. It’s possible for Cloud9 New York to turn a profit in Call of Duty esports through revenue sharing and microtransactions (MTX), as Call of Duty is currently one of the few esports where teams can potentially operate at a profit.

With almost all of the Call of Duty franchises having their 2026 rosters set or close to it, the question remains: What's going on with Cloud9?