AverageJonas has officially announced his departure from the Valorant scene, explaining that he’s stepping away due to burnout and other personal reasons. He also revealed that he’ll be shifting his focus to Valve’s upcoming MOBA shooter, Deadlock.
As a prominent figure in the Valorant community, AverageJonas gained recognition for his expertise with Sova lineups, his operatic singing, and his habit of collecting every in-game skin. Over the years, he earned the respect of players throughout the community.
However, in an emotional video shared on August 25, Jonas revealed that his time with Valorant had come to a close. Despite his enduring love for the game and the opportunities it brought him—transforming his career from an opera singer to a successful streamer—Jonas admitted that this passion had taken a toll on his well-being. Consistent streaming and playing the same game for four years, coupled with health issues, had led to burnout.
Jonas also mentioned that his love for theory crafting had become somewhat stifled by Valorant’s limitations, particularly after numerous nerfs to Sova. Reflecting on his decision, he shared, “I realized that if I want to keep doing this for years to come, I need to focus on what truly makes me happy… I haven’t felt joy while streaming Valorant in a long time, which is why I started exploring other games.”
This exploration into other titles, like DOTA and Palworld, rekindled his passion for gaming. Jonas described how playing these games brought back the excitement he felt when he first began streaming, emphasizing the importance of pursuing what brings him joy. “My content is always better when I’m genuinely happy doing it.”
the timing
The timing was perfect as Jonas was recently invited to participate in Valve’s private playtest of Deadlock. He described the game as a blend of elements from shooters like Overwatch and the intricate strategies of League of Legends and DOTA. “The more I play Deadlock, the more it feels like the perfect game for me to create content around. It has endless depth, allowing me to dive into theory crafting, teaching, and just having fun again.”
Finally, Jonas announced his decision to leave Valorant entirely, stepping away from content creation and casting related to the game. He acknowledged that some fans might not support his decision but expressed his gratitude for their support over the years. “I hope you understand that I need to do this for myself so that I can stay happy.”
In a heartfelt conclusion, Jonas reflected on his journey in Valorant, particularly his time as a dedicated Sova main. “I’ll always cherish the years spent practicing daily in custom games. Thank you very much.”
