Report: NBK and apEX are making another French team

Nathan “NBK” Schmitt and Dan “apEX” Madesclaire are headlining a new potential team in CS:GO.

The former G2 Esports duo, who currently reside on the French bench, are returning to action with Vincent “Happy” Cervoni, Cedric “RpK” Guipouy, and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, according to a DBLTAP report. The quintet are also reportedly in talks with Team Vitality—an organization that fields esports teams in League of Legends and Call of Duty.

Related: G2 unveils new roster featuring shox, Ex6TenZ, and SmithZz—NBK and apEX benched

Since NBK and apEX were replaced on G2 with Edouard “SmithZz” Dubourdeaux and Kevin “Ex6TenZ” Droolans, the duo have been awaiting a buyout from European and North American teams looking for supportive players. It was initially reported that buyouts were priced at $800,000 each for NBK and apEX, but that amount has apparently dropped since then. ApEX also said that the steep buyouts prevented him from joining Mousesports back in June.

NBK, apEX, RpK, and ZywOo teaming together makes sense, since apEX told Flickshot last month that his prospective team would require RpK and ZywOo. It’s surprising, however, that his former Team Envy teammate, Happy, is in the picture because “it doesn’t look like he’s changed” over the years, according to apEX.

Happy and RpK recently trialed with Tempo Storm after they were both released by Envy in June. The former Envy duo weren’t included in the LeftOut roster that competed in the European Minor of the FACEIT London Major. That other French roster included a mix of Envy players new and old—including Adil “ScreaM” Benrlitom, Fabien “kioShiMa” Fiey, Ali “hAdji” Hainouss, Alexandre “xms” Forte, and Christophe “SIXER” Xia.

Rising French prospect ZywOo, on the other hand, still resides with aAa due to his previous desire to finish primary school before signing with a team. He’s now finished school and ready to play at the pro level after competing in FACEIT Pro League pick-up games for months. 

If this roster were to come to fruition under Team Vitality in the coming weeks or months, especially with the young gun ZywOo, they won’t be able to compete in a Major until IEM Katowice in February.