The Norwegian organization Apeks announced in a statement released on X on Tuesday that they are pausing their activities on VALORANT. Present in VCT EMEA in 2025 thanks to their triumph at the 2024 Ascension, Apeks failed to perform and ended up relegated to VCL North at the end of these two splits. Rather than participating in the Tier 2 competition again, the organization prefers to withdraw from the game.

Through this statement, the organization justifies this choice due to a lack of financial resources and Riot's decision to reduce the presence of teams from VCL from two years to one year. "Our investment had already been made, leaving us unable to adjust our plans. This resulted in a significant budget reduction heading into VCT and fundamentally changed what we had planned for the 2025 season."

From dream to nightmare in three years

Apeks starts their VALORANT adventure in 2023 by joining the Challengers Northern Europe: Polaris league. Quickly, the team established itself as one of the best in VCL and included players like Georgio "keiko" Sanassy, Enzo "Enzo" Mestari, Martin "Magnum" Peňkov, or James "Mistic" Orfila, who would join VCT the following year. The team wins the split of their league twice before competing in the VCT Ascension EMEA. Despite a solid run, the team falls at the final hurdle against Gentle Mates and sees the VCT slot slip away.

The team doesn't get discouraged and starts again on the same foundations the following year. After two splits wins in VCL, the team was back in Ascension with new players. In the final, Apeks overcame the Turkish team PCIFIC Esports (3-2) and finally secured their slot in VCT for a year.

After so much effort, Apeks had to face the departure of some players upon reaching the major league. Kajetan "kaajak" Haremski and Dom "soulcas" Sulcas left the team. Despite the arrival of Ava "florescent" Eugene and Mehmet Batu "batujnax" Özaslan, who were delivering good individual performances at times, Apeks struggled to achieve good results. Despite close matches at times, Apeks failed to win a single BO3 during either of the two EMEA splits or the kickoff. Only a year after their arrival in the VCT, the team has already been sent back to the VCL.

A final attempt that did not succeed

With Movistar KOI's departure from VCT, Apeks still had one last chance to remain in the game next year. Per sources, the organization attempted to ally with HEROIC, another Norwegian organization currently only present in VCT Game Changers. However, Riot Games prioritized Gentle Mates' application, ending Apeks' hopes of returning to the VCT.

On this ultimate disappointment, Apeks' journey in VALORANT comes to an end and sees the team withdraw from the game. However, the organization suggests that it is not permanently leaving the game and they "hope to return at a later point."