Fortnite: World Cup Runner-up Psalm Retires

Another prominent figure in competitive Fortnite moves on to a new game.

The recent unveiling of Riot Games’ new first-person shooter Valorant has drawn yet another player away from competitive Fortnite. Earlier today, Harrison “psalm” Chang officially announced that he is moving on from Fortnite. This news came as somewhat of a shock to the collective community considering Psalm's participation in the current Fortnite Champion Series tournament. The multi-game sensation has his sights set elsewhere after competing in Fortnite since 2018.

Psalm Leaving Fortnite for Valorant

My dream is to be the most decorated competitor in gaming history. I have my eyes set on @PlayValorant next.

Thank you @FortniteGame for everything. I was given the chance to achieve what only few have had the pleasure of accomplishing.

"Dedication sees dreams come true."
KB

— psalm (@psalm) April 5, 2020

Psalm blindsided the Fortnite community and his following with the announcement of his retirement earlier this afternoon. However, it does not come as much of a surprise for those familiar with Psalm’s track record in esports. The former Counter Logic Gaming member has competed in DOTA 2 and Heroes of the Storm at the professional level. Psalm continued his esports endeavor with Fortnite, and it brought him an inspiring amount of success. Psalm’s statement echoes his overall approach to his esports career. Fortnite was just one chapter in a much more complex story. He will join former professional Fortnite player and Team Liquid member Jake “Poach” Brumleve in a new game that’s generating an unfathomable amount of hype.

Psalm’s Legacy and Competitive History in Fortnite

Many Fortnite followers will remember Psalm for his work with the Infinity Blade during the Winter Royale in 2018. However, of all the players who have moved on from Fortnite, Psalm’s departure is arguably the most significant thus far. A true veteran in the community, Psalm rose to the top of competitive Fortnite with a uniquely passive playstyle. Talented young players like World Champion Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf rely on their gameplay mechanics to bring them success, but Psalm utilized a different philosophy.

He understood each passing season’s meta like no other and relied on this to reach the top of competitive Fortnite. Psalm managed to qualify as a solo player in week three of the Fortnite World Cup Qualifiers. He then journeyed to New York City, where the 25-year-old turned in a second-place finish at the Fortnite World Cup Solo Finals. Psalm bagged $1.8M USD making him one of the highest-earning players in Fortnite history.

The Fortnite World Cup runner-up continued competing in Fortnite but never managed to mirror the success he found in New York City that July. Psalm joined Aydan “Aydan” Conrad and Sean “Sean” Close for the Season X Fortnite Champion Series. The trio reached the Grand Finals and finished in 15th place overall. Psalm also just recently qualified for the Chapter 2 Season 2 FNCS heats with fellow NA West player toff, but will likely not see the tournament through to the end.

Psalm’s impact on competitive Fortnite as a 25-year-old player proved that not only younger mechanically talented players could find success. He carries a legacy with him from Fortnite to a new game where he hopes to mirror his achievements.

Will Valorant End Fortnite’s Run?

Valorant is the new rage in competitive gaming after drawing millions of viewers across all streaming platforms last week. Several former professional Fortnite players, including Poach of Team Liquid, are committing themselves to the hot new title. We can expect to see even more depending on how Fortnite continues over the next few weeks and months.

Players are retiring at a rapid rate, and it begs the question of whether or not Fortnite has run its course. Although we don’t necessarily have an answer to the question, we can say that Fortnite still manages to maintain popularity amongst a more casual audience. It’s difficult to predict where Fortnite is heading from a competitive standpoint. Most players are quite vocal about their hatred for the current state of the famous Battle Royale but continue to play, whether it be for the impressive prize pools or the recognition for their achievements.

Valorant is receiving as much hype as any other game that’s come along, but Fortnite is different in nearly every aspect. If Fortnite does fade competitively, the developers will have to take the majority of the blame for its demise. It most certainly won’t be another competitive game that buries Fortnite. With players like Psalm retiring, Epic Games should take note of the current state of competitive Fortnite and make the necessary adjustments to preserve its future.

Featured Image: Fortnite