RUMORS: Battoman to join ZETA

After his first year back, Battoman will join APAC's biggest organization.

BSEN can confirm that Japanese player "Battoman" is likely to join ZETA DIVISION following Levi's departure from the organization. After his first year back, Battoman will join APAC's biggest organization, a huge step in the 20 year old's career.

Return of a Star

Heralded as one of East Asia's next stars, Battoman was looking deadly throughout the 2022 season. When he did not return for 2023, fans were shocked and upset that such a talented player had been lost too early. He played a few qualifiers in 2024 but nothing close to his true return to competitive play.

Imagine the surprise when Melty and Shu, 2024 World quarterfinalists, announced that they would be fielding a new third for 2025: Battoman himself. This shocking move made waves through the scene, with many questioning his ability after a two year competitive break. Doubters were quickly silenced, as REJECT defied all expectations throughout the season, just seven points behind ZETA as the second seed in the region. They made five of the six Grand Finals throughout the year, winning one in July and qualifying directly to the World Finals.

While REJECT looked deadly throughout the regular season, their time on the world stage was cut short. In their opening match, LOUD looked well prepared for their opponent and quickly cut down the Japanese squad in four. While they were able to sweep a disgruntled Team Heretics, Melty and Shu were ultimately unable to conquer the demons of their 2024 run, even with Battoman's new presence on stage, losing to Reply Totem in a close five-set affair.

A ZETA Disaster

ZETA DIVISION is the most recognized organization in the BSC, standing alone as the only organization with three World Finals titles and the only Mid-Season Invitational title in history. They hold three times the World Finals titles of the next organization, with HMBLE, NOVA, and PSG each claiming just one. With their return to their home region of East Asia after two years in EMEA, expectations were high for their new roster coming into 2025.

Sitetampo, the 2021 World Champion, 2022 MSI Champion, and 2022/2024 Worlds Runner-Up, is one of the most decorated players in the scene. He made his return to ZETA after two years with Crazy Raccoon. Alongside talented players Levi and Sizuku transferring from NAVI, they looked like the team to beat. While their first month was under expectations, ZETA looked incredible throughout the season, winning four of the six Monthly Finals and placing third at Brawl Cup, narrowingly falling to SK Gaming.

Qualifying to Worlds as the first seed from East Asia, ZETA were placed into group D, a group with arguably the weakest teams at the World Finals on paper , consisting of an STMN team who qualified as a result of a DQ, a weaker FUT than in years past under ZETA, and a hot, but unexperienced, SUP team from LCQ with rookies galore. Everyone expected them to easily qualify to playoffs based on scrim results and the sheer aura of the ZETA name, which would be an expectation that would be blown out of the water. STMN Esports shocked the world with a crazy five-set win over ZETA on the secondary stream. Facing elimination, they crumbled against Papara Supermassive, losing another five-set match in close fashion and exiting dead last, the worst international performance for ZETA in history. Prior to 2025, Sitetampo's worst placement at a LAN event was 3rd place–now, 16th out of 16 teams. 

A shocking end to the season prompted changes for ZETA, and despite questions surrounding their drafting– an area where East Asia has traditionally struggled–Levi was ultimately dropped from the roster heading into the 2026 season. With changes abound, Battoman will join ZETA DIVISION and look to right the wrongs in 2025 on his new team alongside the Sitetampo-Sizuku duo.

ZETA's roster will likely be:

🇯🇵 Sitetampo

🇯🇵 Battoman

🇯🇵 Sizuku

🇯🇵 TARO (Manager)

🇵🇱 Leightox (Analyst)