Natus Vincere's Bold Return to Call of Duty: An Australian Endeavor

Key Takeaways

• Natus Vincere (NAVI) re-enters the competitive Call of Duty scene after nearly a three-year hiatus, opting for an Australian squad.
• The team, consisting of Zepa, Lymax, and Levi, secured their spot in the Esports World Cup Warzone tournament following a strong performance in the World Series of Warzone North American final.
• NAVI's history with CoD includes a brief stint in CoD Mobile in 2021, highlighting their evolving interest in the game's competitive landscape.

Natus Vincere, the Ukrainian esports juggernaut, is making a striking comeback to the competitive Call of Duty arena after a noticeable absence of almost three years. However, this time around, they're taking a different route by adopting an Australian trio to represent them in the upcoming million-dollar Esports World Cup Warzone tournament.

A New Chapter with an Aussie Trio

The chosen Australian players, Zepa, Lymax, and Levi, are set to carry the NAVI banner into the Warzone event in July. This announcement, made on June 22, follows their notable performance in the World Series of Warzone North American final, where their teamwork and strategic prowess earned them a fourth-place finish. This not only included a victory in the second game but also an impressive tally of 54 kills, which clinched their participation in the WSOW Global Finals.

Zepa, reflecting on the surprising invitation from NAVI, expressed his long-standing admiration for the organization to Dot Esports. His ambition to do the iconic black-and-yellow jersey proud underscores the significance of this opportunity to the trio.

NAVI's CoD History and Future Prospects

NAVI's flirtation with the Call of Duty franchise isn't new. In 2021, they ventured into CoD Mobile by acquiring Team Anarchy for the CoD Mobile World Championship. Despite a seventh-place finish in the Western finals, the endeavor was short-lived. Zepa's comments hint at a hopeful future, where a commendable performance at the Esports World Cup could cement their place within NAVI.

The individual journeys of Zepa and Levi in the 2023 WSOW finals, alongside Lymax's success, have prepared them for the challenges ahead. With the Warzone tournament prize pool nearing a million dollars, the stakes couldn't be higher as players from around the globe set their sights on Riyadh.

The Road Ahead

The Esports World Cup, encompassing several esports disciplines, is scheduled to begin in July, with the Warzone competition kicking off on July 3. As the Call of Duty community awaits further details on the World Series of Warzone 2024 Global Finals, the excitement for what NAVI's Australian squad can achieve continues to build. This partnership marks not just a return but a bold new direction for NAVI in the competitive Call of Duty landscape, blending international ambition with the undeniable talent of the Australian esports scene.