OpTic Gaming
An American esports powerhouse based in Dallas, Texas, fielding an elite Call of Duty squad as part of the GameSquare family, with Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez as CEO of OpTic Gaming.
OpTic Gaming is an American professional esports and entertainment organization headquartered in Dallas, Texas. As part of the GameSquare (formerly Envy Gaming) merger in June 2023, Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez serves as the CEO of OpTic Gaming, a subsidiary of GameSquare. The group operates one Call of Duty team: OpTic Texas competing in the professional Call of Duty League (CDL). The organization has a rich history of competing across multiple titles including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Gears of War 4, PUBG, Fortnite, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant, Apex Legends, Overwatch, and Rocket League.
Quick Facts
- Short name
- OpTic
- Games
- Call of Duty
- Founded
- 2006
- Location
- 5757 Main St #201, Frisco, Texas, U.S.
- Owner
- Hector "HECZ" Rodriguez
- Fanclub
- Green Wall
- Partners
- Monster Energy
- Razer
- Wingstop
- USAA
- PrizePicks
Lore & Background
The story of OpTic Gaming began in 2006 when founder Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez established a Call of Duty 2 team originally named Enigma, focused on Search and Destroy and Team Deathmatch. By 2008, the original group had grown older and began to dissipate; with Enigma disbanding, KR3W handed control to long-time member Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez, who then rebranded the team as OpTic. Under H3CZ's leadership in 2010, the team found new life on the MLG scene with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. A defining moment occurred in 2017 when the organization released "OpTic Gaming: The Making of eSports Champions," co-written with commentator Ryan "Fwiz" Wyatt. The book was published but there is no verifiable evidence it reached the New York Times best-seller list. This era cemented OpTic's place in esports history before major ownership shifts occurred in subsequent years.
Reader's Guide
To understand OpTic's competitive journey, one must look at their specific title history. In the 2009–10 season, they placed 4th at MLG National Championships with Modern Warfare 2. The following year, Matt "NaDeSHoT" Haag was dropped but briefly returned to replace an ill player, helping the team finish 3rd at MLG Dallas without practice. In 2012, Call of Duty: Black Ops II arrived, and after a roster restriction issue, NaDeSHoT rejoined permanently. The squad won their first major LAN title by defeating opponents in a decisive 3–2 series to become the first Black Ops II champions. They later placed third at the $1 million Call of Duty Championships. During the Ghosts season (2013–14), they finished bottom of the MLG Pro Circuit Season 1 league but qualified for the World Championship via US Finals, where they eliminated Curse New York to secure a spot in the $1 million tournament.
Origins and Early Innovation
OpTic Gaming was established in 2006 by OpTic "KR3W" and OpTic Enigma as a Call of Duty 2 (Xbox 360) competitive team that specialized mainly in Search and Destroy and Team Deathmatch. In 2008, the group began to dissipate as members grew older; with OpTic Enigma gone, OpTic KR3W stepped down to hand over the team to long-time member Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez. The team made its new beginnings under OpTic H3CZ on the MLG scene starting in 2010 with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox 360.
Competitive Dominance and Strategic Expansion
In 2016, OpTic Gaming released "OpTic Gaming: The Making of eSports Champions" with Ryan "Fwiz" Wyatt; it became a New York Times best-seller, with film rights acquired by John Sacchi and Matt Groesch. In 2017, Neil Leibman and Chris Chaney purchased a majority interest, creating Infinite Esports & Entertainment. On June 12, 2019, Immortals Gaming Club (IGC) acquired Infinite. By November 6, 2020, IGC sold the LA CDL slot to 100 Thieves. However, on November 11, 2020, Hector Rodriguez reacquired full rights to the OpTic name, and the Chicago Huntsmen were rebranded to OpTic Chicago. In November 2021, Envy Gaming acquired the brand in a merger, bringing the Texas roster into the family with Rodriguez as President.
Corporate Restructuring and Leadership Turmoil
On September 15, 2019, it was announced that Hector Rodriguez would leave as CEO of OpTic to pursue independent opportunities and subsequently joined NRG Esports as co-CEO. On June 27, 2022, Envy Gaming retired the Envy brand to fully become OpTic Gaming. The Envy Foundation became the OpTic Foundation, and the Rocket League team was rebranded. The Dallas Fuel Overwatch League team remained unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What games do they play?
Their primary focus remains on competitive shooters, with significant history in Call of Duty, Halo, and Counter-Strike.
Are they still active?
The organization maintains an independent status with an active legacy that continues to influence modern competitive gaming.
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