OpTic Gaming is making waves in the esports world with an exciting revival of their iconic Huntsmen brand. This time, the team is set to compete in the Call of Duty Challengers circuit, showcasing a promising roster that includes notable figures from the gaming community.
OpTic Gaming has revived the Huntsmen brand to field a roster in the Call of Duty Challengers esports circuit. Headlining this team is none other than two-time Halo World Champion Jonathan ‘Renegade’ Willette, known for his outstanding achievements in the esports arena.
The Return of a Legacy
Revealed on December 4th, this marks OpTic Gaming’s return to Call of Duty’s tier two scene for the first time in a decade. The last time the organization competed in this domain was with their OpTic Nation lineup during the Call of Duty: Ghosts and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare seasons, back in 2014 and 2015. The legendary Huntsmen name, previously affiliated with the Chicago Huntsmen franchise owned by NRG, last appeared in the esports scene in 2020.
New Faces, New Challenges
Renegade is the latest Halo esports player making a transition to Call of Duty, joining the Black Ops 7 season. He follows in the footsteps of Kaci ‘Lqgend’ Sabri, who recently joined the Vancouver Surge, moving directly into the Call of Duty League (CDL). Accompanying Renegade on the Huntsmen roster are Jeremiah ‘Nium’ Harrison, ‘Rspi’, and ‘Kips’, who previously made their mark with Stallions and Five Fears during the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 season. Nium and Rspi have already proven their synergy with a top-four finish at the Miami Open in April 2025.
Call of Duty Challengers in 2026
Huntsmen is set to debut at the North American Challengers Cup on December 6th. This first event of the season will have over 120 teams vying for Pro Points, which determine seeding for the Challengers Open tournaments alongside the four Majors in 2026. The 2025/26 season introduces a reimagined format for the Challengers ecosystem, featuring open LAN events at each Major and four online Elite seasons per region. As OpTic Gaming spearheads this new venture alongside its OpTic Texas franchise, the move could inspire other franchises to build pathways for aspiring pros.