3DMAX’s Counter-Strike 2 project is facing an uncertain future after current and former members publicly confirmed long-running problems with delayed salary payments.
Player Bryan “Maka” Canda, current coach Damien “wasiNk” Dufour and former coach Pierre “YouKnow” Marco addressed the situation on August 27. Their statements followed reporting from French insider Sébastien “KRL” Perez alleging that 3DMAX owes players, staff and other parties more than €1.5 million.
The payment difficulties themselves have been confirmed by people directly involved with the team. The €1.5 million figure, however, remains an externally reported claim and has not been publicly confirmed by 3DMAX.
Players describe months of financial pressure
Maka did not disclose whether or how much salary he personally is owed, but described the financial situation as a different type of pressure from normal competitive stress.
According to the longtime 3DMAX player, the problems have affected the team for months and gradually placed an increasing burden on everyone involved.
- Current and former members have confirmed recurring payment delays
- Maka says the situation affected the team over an extended period
- KRL reports total debts exceeding €1.5 million
- That total debt figure has not been independently confirmed by 3DMAX
Maka explained that the roster remained committed despite the circumstances, but suggested the situation became increasingly difficult from last summer onward.
The statements indicate that 3DMAX’s financial problems were not a short-term delay but an issue that repeatedly affected players and staff throughout the competitive season.
Former coach says payments never caught up
Former head coach YouKnow provided one of the clearest accounts of the salary situation.
He said he did receive payments during his approximately eight months as head coach, but those payments consistently covered money that had already been overdue.
That meant the delay was never fully resolved. Instead, each payment effectively moved the outstanding balance forward by another month.
YouKnow ultimately characterized his period as head coach as resembling eight months of unpaid work because the organization never caught up to the current payment schedule.
| Person | Position | Publicly described issue |
|---|---|---|
| Maka | Player | Long-term pressure surrounding team situation |
| wasiNk | Current coach | Financial stress affected competitive performance |
| YouKnow | Former coach | Payments remained consistently behind schedule |
| KRL | Insider | Reported debts above €1.5 million |
The distinction is important. Public statements from team members directly confirm salary delays, while the larger organization-wide debt estimate comes from outside reporting.
wasiNk links payment problems to match pressure
Current coach wasiNk went further by connecting the financial situation directly with 3DMAX’s performances.
He explained that players knew poor results could make an already difficult financial position even worse. If tournament performance declined and money remained unpaid, individuals could struggle to meet their own financial obligations.
That created an additional layer of pressure during important matches.
- Players reportedly competed while worrying about unpaid income
- wasiNk believes the situation contributed to collapses in some matches
- Performance became connected to personal financial security
- The team continued competing despite the uncertainty
Professional Counter-Strike already places substantial pressure on players through constant travel, qualification tournaments and ranking requirements. Adding uncertainty over basic compensation can make maintaining consistent performance significantly more difficult.
wasiNk’s comments therefore provide context for some of the team’s struggles without presenting the financial situation as the sole reason for individual results.
Reported 3DMAX acquisition failed to materialize
The situation is further complicated by reported negotiations surrounding a possible takeover of the organization.
KRL reported that French YouTuber CYRILmp4 had entered discussions to acquire 3DMAX and had signed a preliminary agreement. The proposed deal was ultimately abandoned.
During that period, the players reportedly rejected other opportunities while negotiations were ongoing.
If accurate, that sequence could leave the roster in an especially difficult position. A takeover may have provided a potential solution to the organization’s problems, while other options available to the players apparently disappeared during the process.
No completed acquisition has been announced.
Maka asks for support ahead of Major qualification
Despite the uncertainty, the current roster still intends to compete.
Maka publicly appealed for support from anyone interested in helping the project attend upcoming LAN tournaments. The team remains focused on competing and attempting to qualify for the next Counter-Strike Major.
3DMAX currently fields Maka alongside Lucky, misutaaa, Kursy and Graviti, with wasiNk serving as coach.
Their ability to maintain that lineup and continue attending international events could now depend heavily on whether the organization’s financial problems are resolved or alternative backing becomes available.
Assessment
The 3DMAX situation goes beyond a normal esports salary dispute because several current and former members describe a problem that persisted for months and began affecting competitive performance.
The most important confirmed information comes directly from those individuals: salary payments were repeatedly delayed, and the resulting financial uncertainty placed substantial pressure on the team.
The reported €1.5 million debt is more serious but should remain clearly separated from those first-hand accounts until 3DMAX confirms the figure or additional documentation emerges.
For the players, the immediate concern is maintaining a functioning competitive project. They still have tournaments and Major qualification ahead, but continuing without reliable financial support is unlikely to be sustainable indefinitely.
Unless 3DMAX resolves the outstanding payments or new backing arrives, the organization could face the loss of a roster that has continued competing despite increasingly difficult circumstances.
