In every sport, not just esports, academies have played a key role in building future success for years. It is there that talent is nurtured, eventually making its way onto the biggest stages, whilst organisations reap the rewards of their patience. In esports, however, the concept of an academy is still often misunderstood. It is frequently treated as a second squad to ‘pad the results’ or a pool of players for a rainy day, rather than as a long-term development project. Meanwhile, a well-run academy does not need to win everything straight away. Its greatest value lies in the process. Daily work, stability and the opportunity to learn in conditions similar to those of the professional scene. Examples of such projects can also be found on the underground CS scene, and one of them is Lunacy NXT, which in ESEA Open10 demonstrates that development and results need not be mutually exclusive.
Why the academy is the foundation of a healthy scene
In an ideal world, the academy is a bridge between amateur and semi-professional play. It is a space where players learn not only better mechanics and tactics, but above all how to function within a team and a structure. Regular training sessions, working with a coach, analysing replays… All of this contributes to skills that cannot be acquired by playing only in mix teams or short-term squads.
One of the most common models is pairing young, promising players with more experienced ones. The latter bring calmness, communication and the right mindset, which is often lacking in less experienced talents. An equally effective alternative is a young, close-knit five-man squad that develops together from the outset, backed by solid organisational and coaching support. What matters most, therefore, is not just experience on paper, but the continuity of the project and a clearly defined direction.
Academies are also extremely important from the perspective of the scene as a whole. They give organisations greater transfer flexibility, allow them to build their own brand from the ground up and, most importantly, increase the number of players who understand what a professional approach to competition entails. Even if not every player makes it into the top squad, the experience gained from the academy continues to pay dividends. Whether in other teams, projects or leagues. In this context, sporting results should not be an end in themselves. Rather, they are a tool for measuring progress. If the academy wins, that’s great. If it loses, but development and progress are evident, it can still be a success.
ESEA after the changes – a challenge or still an opportunity?
Of course, ESEA Open has for years served as a natural environment for academies and development projects. It was there that young squads could regularly face a variety of opponents and gain match experience. With a bit of luck and consistency, they could also fight for promotion to Intermediate.
However, the changes introduced with the transformation of ESEA into a tournament within the VRS system sparked a great deal of debate. The new regulations made it harder for multi-team organisations, including academies, to operate, which meant many projects had to make difficult decisions. There were fears that the Open would cease to be a place for development and become solely a battleground for ranking points.
The reality, however, turned out to be more complex. Yes, some organisations withdrew from the academy model or suspended their projects. At the same time, many teams decided to ignore the changes and continue pursuing their goals. What’s more, it is precisely in the Open division that one can still find many teams with the suffix ‘Academy’ or ‘NXT’, which treat the league as a stage in a long-term plan.
It is difficult to assess unequivocally today what the real consequences of the VRS system will be for academies. It is possible that some projects will not stand the test of time. It is also possible that the scene itself will find a balance between competing for points and developing players. However, one thing is certain… ESEA Open remains a place where it is possible to build something more than just a momentary result.
Lunacy NXT Academy – proof that the process works
One of the teams that has recently been attracting particular attention is Lunacy NXT, the official academy of the Lunacy Gaming organisation. This is a project that did not come about overnight, and its foundation is a stable core of players who have been playing together for a long time. The core of the team, previously known for playing under the Dobu banner, joined VYCE Clan in September 2025, where they competed until December of the same year. Even then, the team was close to promotion to ESEA Intermediate, reaching the playoffs despite playing with a weaker and less polished line-up. After that stage concluded, the players decided to continue their journey together, this time as the official Lunacy academy.
Since December, the current five-man squad has been training together regularly, which quickly began to yield the first tangible results. Lunacy NXT finished the regular season of the arrMY Open with a 9–1 record, giving them real hope of fighting for promotion to arrMY Rising. The playoffs, however, proved to be a brutal test, where an early exit closed the door on promotion. From the academy’s perspective, however, this was not a step backwards, but rather another lesson… In just how fine the line is between consistency and effectiveness in decisive moments. Added to all this is the presence of a coach and a solid organisational infrastructure, which allows the team to focus on development rather than constantly seeking makeshift solutions.
In ESEA, Lunacy NXT currently stands at 7–1 after eight of the ten rounds of the regular season. It is an impressive result, but the context is far more important. It is not proof that the academy must dominate every league in which it plays. However, it does confirm that stability, clearly defined goals and consistent work can regularly translate into solid results.
Results as a by-product, not the goal
The story of Lunacy NXT clearly illustrates what an academy should be in the modern CS landscape. It is not a shortcut to results or a quick way to ‘tick off’ a league appearance. It is a process which, if conducted consciously, teaches players to win in the future. Changes in the ESEA will certainly shape the underground scene. Some projects will disappear, others will have to adapt. The academies that survive will likely be those that knew from the outset why they exist. Because ultimately, it’s not about who goes 7–1 in the Open today. It’s about who will be ready for the next step in a year or two. And an academy that understands this process will always be one step ahead of the rest.
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