Esports Planet

Tag: Crypto

  • Crypto Signs With Maxebels as AS i8 Era Ends in PUBG Mobile

    Crypto Signs With Maxebels as AS i8 Era Ends in PUBG Mobile

    Ask anyone who has followed Pakistani PUBG Mobile over the last ten years, and the answer is the same: this scene doesn’t exist without i8. It was a factory of legends. Falak, IQ, Crypto and Huzaifa, the names that now define Pakistani PUBG Mobile, all rose to fame after getting experience under that classic banner, and for a whole generation of fans, the green flag meant AS i8.

    And now, that banner is fading. Crypto, the player whose name was stitched into i8’s identity, has officially left to join Maxebels. With UZM reportedly retired, the last threads holding the legacy together have come loose, and a golden era is quietly coming to an end.

    But every ending is also a beginning. Here’s the full story of Crypto’s move to Maxebels, and what it means for Pakistan’s next chapter.

    Crypto Signs With Maxebels: The Move That Shook Pakistani PUBG Mobile

    Every esports scene has a moment when the ground shifts. For Pakistani PUBG Mobile, this is it.

    Raja “CRYPTO” Haseeb, one of the country’s most decorated veterans, has parted ways with AS i8 Esports and signed with Maxebels. It’s a transfer that closes one chapter and kicks off another.

    Pakistan’s PUBG Mobile scene has seen big moves before. This one feels different because it lands at the intersection of three stories: a veteran chasing redemption, a champion roster searching for its missing piece, and an old dynasty fading as a new one takes the global stage.

    Why Crypto’s Move Hurts and Excites at the Same Time

    The Esports Nations Cup Dream That Never Happened

    To understand why this signing carries so much emotion, rewind to earlier this year.

    Crypto had locked into an all-star lineup for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC). Beside him were tactical heavyweights Falak Sher (FALAK) and Shayan “IQ” Asad, with veteran coach Temour Ali “KHAN” Khan guiding the squad. On paper, it was the kind of roster that makes a community hold its breath.

    Fans were ready for a global masterclass. Then the tournament organizer postponed the event over administrative scheduling conflicts. The stage was never set, and supporters never got to watch Crypto, Falak and IQ compete together on the biggest platform.

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    Reuniting With Coach KHAN

    Crypto didn’t wait around. He reunited with Coach KHAN under the Maxebels banner and turned a heartbreak into a fresh start.

    To make room for Crypto as the central anchor, Maxebels parted ways with roster mainstays Pikaboyy and Voltrux. The new Maxebels core includes:

    • CRYPTO (support/captain)
    • INVADER
    • SLACK
    • IM77vn

    It’s a blend of veteran calm and young aggression, and Crypto is hungry heading into the 2027 season.

    Player Spotlight: Raja “CRYPTO” Haseeb

    Crypto is known for clutch survival play and high-impact utility, and he remains one of Pakistan’s highest-earning veterans.

    DetailInfo
    RoleSupport / Captain
    Career winnings$51,569
    1st placePUBG Mobile National Championship Pakistan Fall 2025 (Tournament MVP)
    1st placeGamers Galaxy Pakistan 2024
    3rd placePUBG Mobile Pro League Pakistan Spring 2022

    Maxebels: Champions on the Rise With One Glaring Gap

    Fresh Off a PMNC Pakistan 2026 Fall Win

    Crypto isn’t joining a rebuilding project. Maxebels arrives with real momentum, having recently taken 1st place at the PUBG Mobile National Championship (PMNC) Pakistan 2026 Fall and claiming the lion’s share of the prize pool.

    TournamentPlacementPrize
    PMNC Pakistan 2026 Fall1st$3,585
    PUBG Mobile Spring Cup 20261st$358
    The Maxebels Invitational S44th$120

    The Missing Piece: Where’s the IGL?

    Despite the trophies, one question follows this roster everywhere: who is the in-game leader?

    Crypto has taken the captain’s mantle, and his experience is unmatched. But the squad still leans heavily on raw mechanical talent and aggressive skirmishing rather than a dedicated, traditional IGL calling rotations, reading zones and managing the macro game.

    Fans on Instagram and other social platforms keep returning to the same point. In their view, a lack of rigorous micro-to-macro leadership is what makes Pakistani teams stumble internationally, even after dominating at home.

    Pakistan’s Bigger IGL Problem

    This isn’t just a Maxebels issue. It’s a regional pattern. Domestic lobbies reward fearless gunfights, but global stages punish teams without tactical structure. Until Pakistani rosters solve the IGL puzzle, converting local dominance into international silverware will stay difficult.

    The Fall of AS i8 Esports: The End of a Dynasty

    From PMGC Regulars to Scattered Stars

    For years, AS i8 Esports was Pakistani PUBG Mobile. With $337,812 in total winnings and multiple first-place finishes, the organization carried the green flag at consecutive PUBG Mobile Global Championships (PMGC).

    That era has now cratered. Roster instability and administrative shifts have pulled the core apart, and legendary players are scattering across rival organizations during recent transfer windows. Crypto’s exit is the loudest signal yet that the i8 dynasty is over.

    4Thrives (4T): The New Face of Pakistani PUBG Mobile

    Proof That Structured IGL Play Wins

    Into the vacuum steps 4Thrives Esports (4T), and the team has done more than fill a gap. It has set a new international benchmark.

    Led by IQ (Shayan Asad), the very player fans wanted to see alongside Crypto, 4T runs on disciplined, traditional IGL play. While other regional teams struggle for tactical direction, 4T’s structure has made it Pakistan’s vanguard on the world stage, with $430,286 in total winnings.

    Global TournamentPlacementPrize
    PUBG Mobile Global Open 2026 Season 1 (Jakarta)1st (Champions)$62,500
    PUBG Mobile World Cup 2026 (Paris)6th$161,000
    PUBG Mobile World Cup 2025 (Riyadh)7th$157,000

    The Ultimate Litmus Test for Crypto and Maxebels

    Maxebels has the firepower to flatten any domestic lobby. 4Thrives has shown what disciplined IGL leadership can achieve on the global stage. Between those two realities sits the question that will define the 2027 season.

    Can Crypto’s veteran captaincy fill the IGL void? Can a squad built on mechanical talent evolve into a complete, internationally competitive team? If it can, Maxebels could give Pakistan the global championship roster fans have waited years to see.

    Either way, the rivalry between Maxebels’ raw talent and 4T’s tactical discipline is shaping up to be the story to watch.

    Quick FAQ for Fans

  • AS i8 New Lineup: Everything You Need to Know About the Roster Change

    AS i8 New Lineup: Everything You Need to Know About the Roster Change

    If you’ve been following Pakistan’s PUBG Mobile scene, you already know AS i8 doesn’t sit still for long. After a rough exit from the PUBG Mobile National Championship (PMNC), the org has pulled the trigger on a full lineup shakeup — and honestly, it was a long time coming after weeks of transfer rumors flying around the community.

    Here’s the breakdown, in plain terms.

    Why the Shakeup Happened?

    Let’s rewind a bit. AS i8 walked into PMNC as one of the teams to watch, but it didn’t go their way — an early elimination in the grand finals sent them home while rival squad Maxebels lifted the trophy instead. That kind of result doesn’t just sting; it forces a team’s management to sit down and rethink everything.

    And that’s exactly what happened. Veteran player Keton had actually already stepped away from the org well before PMNC even kicked off, choosing to chase a different path in his career. Then, right after the PMNC loss, star fragger Faisal briefly left the roster too — a moment that probably had fans nervous. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, and Faisal is back in the starting lineup, keeping that hard-earned team chemistry intact.

    Meet the AS i8 New Lineup

    So what does the rebuilt roster actually look like?

    • Walker (Usama Fazal) joins as the new frontline attacker, arriving via a high-profile move from Hyper Esports.
    • Crypto (Raja Haseeb) steps up from a support role into the In-Game Leader (IGL) seat, now calling the shots on rotations and overall strategy.
    • Iron (Ayan Raza) and UZM (Uzair Ahmed) round out the squad as the mechanical anchors fans already know and trust.

    It’s a mix of fresh firepower and proven experience — exactly the kind of formula teams look for after a disappointing tournament run.

    Read More: PMGO Season 2 2026: Everything You Need to Know About PUBG Mobile’s Next Mega Event

    Getting to Know ‘Walker’

    Since he’s the new face in the lineup, here’s a quick scouting report:

    Official AS i8 Esports welcome poster for new player Walker (Usama Fazal) with team logos and graphics.
    Image Courtesy: @teami8esports
    • Real name: Usama Fazal
    • Playstyle: A raw, mechanical fragger who thrives on compound breaches and high-impact entry kills — the guy who kicks the door down, essentially.
    • Background: Before joining AS i8 Esports, Usama “Walker” Fazal established himself as a tier-1 PUBG Mobile player. He spent the early years of his career as a core member of R3D Esports, starting in early 2020, including a short international loan stint with the Romanian roster, Excuse Me, in late 2021.
    • More recently, he built his reputation at Phoenix Rise and Hyper Esports through high-impact, close-range plays. Following these standout performances, AS i8 Esports scouts noticed him during their post-PMNC evaluations and officially signed him to their main roster.

    A Storyline Fans Will Recognize

    If this rebuild feels familiar, that’s because it is. This isn’t the first time i8 has restructured to unlock a player’s potential — longtime fans will remember Huzaifa.

    Huzaifa once played alongside Crypto under the i8 banner before deciding to chase a better opportunity elsewhere, making the move to 4Thrives Esports. That decision paid off in a big way — he went on to become a legitimate global star, landing a historic finish at the world championships and picking up multiple MVP awards along the way.

    From an analytical perspective, it is hard not to draw comparisons between that historic storyline and Walker’s arrival today. The i8 management is undoubtedly hoping this fresh strategic setup can spark a similar mechanical breakout for their new-look squad.

    What’s Next for AS i8

    With the roster now finalized, the goal is clear: dominate the upcoming PMPO (PUBG Mobile Pakistan Open) and punch a ticket to the PMGO Season 2 main stage. All eyes will be on whether this new-look squad can turn a disappointing PMNC into a launching pad for something bigger.

    AS i8’s Net Worth

    For context on just how established this organization is: AS i8 Esports carries an estimated $337,672 in total career prize winnings, cementing its status as one of Pakistan’s most decorated esports organizations. That kind of track record is exactly why every roster move they make gets this much attention from the community.