Team Vitality CEO Makes Statement After HQ Vandalized, Trophies Stolen

Team Vitality is celebrating after qualifying to the VALORANT Champions 2026 Grand Final, but recent vandalism to the org’s headquarters has cast a shadow on the moment. Thieves broke into the V.Hive, stealing trophies and doing damage to the building. Now, Team Vitality CEO and Founder Neo has issued a statement. Here’s everything we know.

Team Vitality’s V.Hive HQ Vandalized During Protests

The Team Vitality headquarters has been damaged during ongoing demonstrations in France. The organization’s main building, known as the V.Hive, is located in Paris. It houses Vitality’s trophy collection, key offices, merch stores, and some of its operations.

On October 16 and 17, 2026, videos began emerging online showing the V.Hive being vandalized. At first, masked individuals spray-painted graffiti over the building’s windows and walls. Later, things progressed: the thieves broke into the V.Hive, took several Counter-Strike trophies, and stole merchandise. Passers-by also caught them on camera stealing PCs and taking them apart to sell for parts.

😳 Vitality's office is being vandalized amid ongoing protests in France, with footage showing the damage

Hopefully everyone is safe, and all those trophies are too🏆 pic.twitter.com/lxexH1IoPm

— NarT (@NartOutHere) October 17, 2026

The vandalism occurs during major protests stretching across France. Students and participants are assembling to bring awareness to education issues, inflation, and rapidly rising costs of living.

Currently, the Vitality vandals haven’t been publicly identified.

😥 Thieves stole at least one trophy from Vitality’s office in Paris.

They also stole merch and apparently took the PCs apart for parts. pic.twitter.com/aieYAjzdk7

— CS2 NEWS (@CS2News_EN) October 17, 2026

Team Vitality CEO Neo Makes Statement

After videos of the damage went viral, the Team Vitality Founder and CEO Fabien ‘Neo’ Devide has issued a statement. Translated from the org’s native French, he wrote: “Tonight, I simply have a lot of sorrow.”

Devide reiterated his support for the protesters and their right to demonstrate, but also clarified that Vitality has made efforts to keep their prices affordable and increase accessibility for gamers.

The V.Hive’s destruction occurs during VALORANT Champions 2026 Shanghai, where Team Vitality has just qualified for the Grand Final. Devide explained that the incident casts a shadow over an otherwise bright period for the org.

Pour rappel V.Hive est né du rêve d’un enfant qui a grandi en découvrant et en aimant l’esport dans les cybercafés à une époque où Internet coûtait encore trop cher pour l’avoir à la maison.

Depuis son ouverture, les sessions de jeu sont à 3,50 € de l’heure. Ce n’est pas un…

— Fabien 'Neo' Devide (@Vitality_Neo) October 17, 2026

Neo’s Statement

“Just a reminder: V.Hive was born from the dream of a child who grew up discovering and loving esports in cybercafés at a time when the Internet was still too expensive to have at home.

Since its opening, gaming sessions have been €3.50 per hour. This is no coincidence. We have always wanted teenagers and people with modest incomes to be able to come play, reconnect, and share their passion at a low cost. Despite inflation, we have never raised our rates.

V.Hive is also the symbol of our maturity. The determination to show that esports is not just lived behind a screen but that it brings people together, creates encounters, memories, and human connections.

I just lived a waking dream with our performance in Shanghai, and today, thousands of kilometers away, I see a part of me go up in smoke.

The right to demonstrate is a fundamental freedom that I will defend all my life. Thank you to those who mobilize for their convictions. But looting and destruction should never have a place in these fights.“

Community Reactions

💛💔

— M8 nass (@Nassrl_) October 17, 2026

Many community members from CS2 and VALORANT assembled to show their support. Gentle M8s Rocket League players Oski and Nass stopped by, saying ‘Courage’ and sending heart emojis.

Fellow EMEA teams Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) and FUT Esports also left replies.

Gentle Mates player Zweler wrote, “Big strength to you and the team, when I was younger I used to go there often, the team on site was awesome and incredibly kind. Even when at times you didn’t have the means, they were there so you could play and have a good time.”

Stay tuned for more esports news.