VALORANT: HyP announces his retirement

A discreet yet central figure of the French VALORANT scene, Damien "HyP" Souville has announced on X on Tuesday that he is bringing his competitive career to an end after nearly four years with Mandatory. Joining the project at its launch in 2022, after already being among the first French players to compete in the game in 2020, he became the team’s most constant presence: same organization, same role, same standards. Frequently fielded on Sentinel agents such as Cypher, and at times on Initiators, HyP embodied the kind of player who prioritizes the team’s structure, calls and cohesion over individual spotlight.

With Mandatory, HyP still carved out several meaningful milestones in the history of the French scene, including a Coupe de France title in 2022, consistent showings in the domestic league, and several promising runs up to Ascension EMEA. His final season with Mandatory featured a solid unit capable of competing at the European regional level, but one that faltered at the final hurdle, notably losing in the final on the verge of VCT EMEA qualification against ULF Esports. After almost four years serving as an executing captain, his retirement reads less like a rupture and more like the natural conclusion of a competitive cycle.

What truly set HyP apart was the way he embraced utility roles. Where others chased aim duels, he laid traps, locked down sites, called rotations, and left the spotlight to the more explosive players. That approach is also what allowed Mandatory to remain competitive over time: a stable framework, the same shotcaller, the same game philosophy. In an esport where rosters reshuffle every few months, holding the same position for nearly four years is far from trivial.

HyP is not entirely leaving the scene, as he is stepping away to focus on content creation, to make use of his experience, and to keep talking about VALORANT in a different format. He departs with the image of a reliable player, a French competitor present since the game’s early days, and a captain who carried a project as far as its sporting ceiling allowed.

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It is not the story of a player who won everything, but of a player who held everything together, and in a scene that needs stability as much as raw talent, that remains a significant contribution.