3DMAX players, staff confirm €1.5m in unpaid wages

Current and former members of French esports organization 3DMAX posted on X that the team owes more than €1.5 million and that players and staff went months without pay.

An industry insider, Sebastien “KRL” Perez, reported the figure and said YouTuber CYRILmp4 signed a preliminary agreement to acquire 3DMAX but later withdrew. Players reportedly declined other offers while takeover talks continued. Members say payment problems began last summer.

Coaches and players described a pattern of late payments and partial catch-ups instead of regular monthly salaries. Former head coach Pierre “YouKnow” Marco wrote on X that he received some payments, but each covered an already overdue month and the delay was never cleared. “In the end, it’s as if those eight months as head coach, I did them without being paid,” he wrote.

Current coach Damien “wasiNk” Dufour linked the financial pressure to performance, writing that players felt payments depended on results and that the strain explained breakdowns in certain matches.

Longstanding team member Bryan “Maka” Canda described the personal toll and appealed for support to attend upcoming LAN events and pursue Major qualification. He wrote that months of unpaid wages left the squad “too much in deep water” despite their commitment.

Members said the debt extends beyond players and coaches to other staff and external parties. The reported total of more than €1.5 million covers amounts owed to players, staff and third parties connected to the organization.

The disclosures follow recent public complaints by staff and players at other teams over unpaid wages. The statements from 3DMAX members did not include a response from the organization’s ownership or management.

The team’s short-term competitive plans are uncertain while players and staff await payments or outside assistance ahead of planned travel and Major qualification events.